ASEANAPOL Advances “ASEANAPOL Ecosystem” to Strengthen Regional Response Against Online Fraud

ASEANAPOL Advances “ASEANAPOL Ecosystem” to Strengthen Regional Response Against Online Fraud

On 16 March 2026, Police Senior Colonel Dr. Kongkrissada Kittithiraphong, Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, participated as a keynote speaker in the international conference titled “Intelligent Threats with a Global Reach: The Evolution of Scam Centres and Cybercrime in Southeast Asia”, held at Conference Room M2, UNODC Headquarters, Vienna International Centre.

The event brought together policymakers, senior law enforcement officials, and international partners to address the escalating threat of cyber-enabled fraud and transnational scam operations in Southeast Asia.

The conference was presided over by Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and featured Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, as a key speaker—highlighting strong alignment between diplomatic leadership and operational law enforcement efforts.

During the session “Strengthening Regional Coordination and Collective Responses,” the Executive Director emphasized that cyber-enabled fraud has evolved into a highly complex and adaptive transnational threat, driven by advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). He stressed that fragmented national responses are no longer sufficient, and that a structured, integrated regional approach is urgently required.

In response, ASEANAPOL introduced the strategic concept of the “ASEANAPOL Ecosystem”—an integrated cooperation framework designed to unify efforts across multiple sectors. The Ecosystem connects:

• ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs)

• International organizations, including UNODC and INTERPOL

• Private sector stakeholders, particularly in technology and financial services

• Government agencies, including foreign affairs and policy bodies

This multi-sectoral framework aims to ensure seamless coordination, intelligence integration, and operational effectiveness across the region.

To operationalize this Ecosystem, ASEANAPOL has developed a set of concrete mechanisms, including:

• ASEANAPOL Scam Combat Task Force (ASCOT): a dedicated platform for joint operations, intelligence coordination, and strategic disruption of transnational scam networks

• Intelligence Sharing Platform: enabling real-time exchange of actionable information among member countries and partners

• Financial Tracing Mechanism: strengthening collaboration with private sector actors to track and disrupt illicit financial flows

• Legal Cooperation Framework: enhancing cross-border investigation prosecution, and judicial cooperation

The ASEANAPOL Ecosystem represents a strategic shift toward a more structured, coordinated, and action-oriented regional model, aimed at:

• Enhancing operational coordination among ASEAN Member Countries
• Accelerating intelligence sharing and response capabilities
• Strengthening public-private partnerships
• Increasing effectiveness in dismantling transnational scam networks
• Improving safety and security for citizens across the region

The participation of ASEANAPOL in this international forum underscores its commitment to addressing cyber-enabled fraud through innovation, partnership, and strategic integration.

The Executive Director concluded that:

“Building a robust ecosystem supported by effective mechanisms such as ASCOT is key to disrupting online fraud networks and safeguarding our region. This is not just cooperation—it is collective action.”