Myanmar junta raids scam hub, arrests 300 in Shwe Kokko

The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military has announced a major raid on the notorious Shwe Kokko compound near the Thai border, detaining more than 300 foreign nationals in what it calls a decisive strike against online fraud networks.

State media reported that 346 people were arrested and nearly 10,000 mobile phones seized during Tuesday’s operation in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township. The site has long been linked to gambling, trafficking and internet scams worth billions of dollars annually.

The junta has faced accusations of tolerating such hubs since its 2021 coup, but pressure from China — whose citizens are both victims and perpetrators — has spurred a series of highly publicised crackdowns. Analysts, however, suggest the raids are as much about propaganda as policing, with scam bosses often tipped off in advance.

Shwe Kokko has been tied to Chinese‑Cambodian businessman She Zhijiang, arrested in Thailand in 2022 and extradited last week to China. His Yatai company, previously sanctioned by Britain and the US, is accused of transforming the border village into a “resort city” for crime.

The latest sweep follows earlier raids on nearby KK Park and coincides with international pressure. The US recently launched a Scam Center Strike Force, deploying FBI agents to Thailand to target Myanmar’s compounds. A UN report estimated victims across Asia lost up to $37 billion in 2023, with global losses far higher.

Despite repeated pledges, scam operations continue to thrive in Myanmar’s borderlands, often under the protection of militias allied to the junta. Observers warn that without genuine enforcement, the raids risk being little more than theatre, leaving neighbouring countries to deal with the fallout.

-2025-11-20