RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational crime, particularly online scam networks, following the successful repatriation of nearly 1,000 Indonesian citizens who fell victim to transnational crime syndicates. The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting and the Second Leaders' Consultation between President Prabowo Subianto and Thai Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, August 3, 2026.

President Prabowo Subianto, expressed appreciation to the Government of Thailand for their support and close coordination in facilitating the repatriation of Indonesian citizens. According to him, this cooperation reflects the strong relationship between the two countries and their joint commitment to protecting citizens from cross-border crime threats.

"I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the Indonesian people to the Government of Thailand for their assistance and close cooperation in facilitating the repatriation of Indonesian citizens who fell victim to online scams. The number is quite large, approaching almost 1,000 Indonesian citizens," Prabowo said.

In addition to the repatriation process of victims, Indonesia and Thailand also agreed to strengthen information and intelligence exchange, joint investigations, tracking of financial flows, and enhanced coordination among law enforcement agencies. Both countries also support the development of the Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) to expedite the identification, protection, and safe and dignified repatriation of victims.

Prabowo emphasized that online scam crimes are a form of transnational crime that require a joint response. Therefore, both countries will optimize various cooperation mechanisms, including the Indonesia–Thailand High Level Committee and the Indonesia–Thailand Security Dialog, to strengthen collaboration in the fields of security and defense.

Thai Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said the repatriation process for nearly 1,000 Indonesian citizens has been ongoing since last year after Thai authorities rescued them from online scam centers in the border region. He also invited Indonesia to strengthen cooperation in tackling other transnational crimes, such as human trafficking and drug trafficking.

"Thailand and Indonesia must also promote strong cooperation within ASEAN to combat online scams. Thailand is always ready to enhance cooperation to eradicate this crime," Anutin conveyed.

The agreement reached in the bilateral meeting includes strengthening cooperation in the fields of security and defense, including the optimization of the Indonesia–Thailand High Level Committee mechanism, the Indonesia–Thailand Security Dialog, and the development of the Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) in handling transnational crime.