The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has launched an international information-sharing platform to combat cross-border online scams and human trafficking.
The platform, named SHIELD, was unveiled during the closing ceremony of the 2nd International Operational Dialogue -- Countering Cyber-Scam and Forced Criminality, jointly organised by the RTP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Developed by the RTP in collaboration with the ministry, SHIELD -- short for Scam and Human Trafficking Information Exchange and Linked Database -- is a centralised web-based system designed to enable participating countries to securely share intelligence on scam compounds, criminal networks, victims, financial transactions and cross-border movements.
Pol Col Sanya Niempradit, deputy commander of the RTP's Foreign Affairs Division, said the platform was created because existing mechanisms for exchanging information between law enforcement agencies were often too slow to respond effectively to transnational crimes.
"Each country is holding a piece of a jigsaw puzzle," Pol Col Sanya said. "This system allows member countries to securely share and analyse key information."
He noted that online scam syndicates increasingly operate across borders and are frequently linked to human trafficking and other criminal activities, making international cooperation essential.
Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, deputy national police chief, said 11 countries had joined the platform: Thailand, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, the United States, India, Australia, South Korea and Nepal.
International partners include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organisation for Migration and Interpol.
The platform officially entered operation on Thursday following a year of development, testing and training.
Asked about the absence of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which have frequently been linked to regional scam-centre operations, Pol Gen Thatchai said future participation would depend on mutual trust and consent.
"We expect that after this launch, we will see more efficient arrests and suppression because multiple countries are now working together," he said.
