BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered immediate action to cut power to locations suspected of housing call center scam operations. Citing legal provisions under the Provincial Electricity Authority Act and a 1996 Cabinet Resolution, he directed the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to act without requiring further government approval.
Authorities have identified unusually high electricity consumption at specific sites, raising suspicions about their connection to illegal operations. Under existing regulations, the PEA has full discretion to suspend or terminate electricity supply in cases of non-compliance with contractual agreements. The government is now exercising this authority to disrupt scam networks by cutting their power immediately.
Phumtham has warned that any government agency failing to implement these measures will face immediate reassignment. He also stressed that national security must take precedence over revenue considerations. With scams continuing to cause substantial financial harm, the government is intensifying efforts to shut down these criminal activities.
The PEA has been instructed to act swiftly, ensuring that electricity is no longer supplied to locations identified as call center hubs. This measure is expected to disrupt their operations, limiting further damage while investigations continue. (NNT)
