Criminals are learning there is no smooth sailing in Thailand. The Kingdom’s Anti-Money Laundering Police seized a luxury yacht in southern Thailand that they say is the property of a figure involved in technology-related crimes, with media reports alleging the owner has links to transnational call-center scam operations.

Thai authorities seized the yacht, Atlas, on Christmas Day at a marina in Phuket, the Kingdom’s most popular beach resort island and a regional sailing and yachting center. Authorities did not name the owner of the 167-foot vessel, but local media speculated that it belongs to a South African Businessperson who is allegedly involved in call-center scams and who has been well known in Thai business and political circles for more than a decade.

The seizure shows that Thailand’s Government is serious about combating scam operations and is using every lever at its disposal to shut them down or cripple them.

Most scam centers are located in countries neighboring Thailand but are extremely close to the Kingdom’s borders. While this places them beyond the direct reach of Thai Law Enforcement, it has allowed them to take advantage of Thai infrastructure that extends across borders, such as telecommunications networks and electricity supplies.

International concern about the scam operations increased markedly this year after a Chinese Actor was lured across the border into one of Thailand’s neighboring countries, held against his will, and forced to work in a scam center.

The scam operations have defrauded countless victims worldwide, including Americans and Europeans.

The transnational criminal organizations behind these operations engage in human trafficking, forced labor, various forms of smuggling, and financial crimes.