Senior Inspector General Takes Action Nonstop: Cutting Off “Mule Accounts,” a New Form of National Security Threat
Today (January 13, 2025) at 10:30 a.m., Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Senior Inspector General/Director of the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT), along with Police Major General Attasit Sutsanguan, Deputy Commissioner of The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau ; Police Major General Phongsiam Meekhantong, Deputy Commissioner of the Tourist Police; Police Major General Chusak Khananit, Commander of the Anti-Money Laundering Bureau; and Colonel Worrathat Wichuwanich, Superintendent of the Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy, held a meeting with the Bank of Thailand.
The meeting, led by Ms. Rung Mallikamas, Deputy Governor for Financial Institutions Stability; Ms. Daranee Saechu, Assistant Governor for Payment Systems Oversight and Consumer Protection; and Mr. Buncha Manungkunchai, Advisor to the Deputy Governor for Financial Institutions Stability, focused on strategizing a major crackdown on financial crimes. The goal is to close loopholes exploited by criminals to defraud Thai citizens and drain significant national resources.
Nationwide Shutdown of Mule Accounts
Currently, over 500,000 mule accounts are being used for scams, causing immense damage to Thailand’s economy. “We must close this loophole!” said Police General Thatchai, adding that since 2022, criminals have used mule accounts to steal over 100 billion baht from Thai citizens. These accounts have been used to channel money through Thailand’s financial infrastructure and transfer funds into cryptocurrency, ultimately moving money out of the country to call center gangs, which are often part of foreign organized crime networks.
The meeting revealed that over 200,000 people have opened mule accounts, most of whom are working-age individuals. This has resulted in a labor shortage of 200,000 workers in the Thai economy. Many of these account holders are likely to face arrest warrants. The banking sector must address this issue promptly to prevent further disruption to the national economy.
Operation “Breaking the Criminal Bridge”
This meeting also marked the launch of Operation “Breaking the Criminal Bridge,” aimed at cutting off all pathways used by call center gangs to deceive citizens. By eliminating the use of mule accounts for criminal activities, Police General Thatchai emphasized the importance of aligning with the policy of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
“We will no longer allow call center gangs to deceive our citizens! Shutting down mule accounts is a targeted, decisive action that will be carried out swiftly and effectively through the collaboration of all sectors,” he stated.
Urgent Action from the Bank of Thailand
Ms. Rung Mallikamas, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand, assured that the Bank would urgently collaborate with the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) to establish policies and solutions to prevent criminals from exploiting bank accounts. This initiative aims to protect Thai citizens from becoming victims of international organized crime groups.
