Myanmar’s military has announced the arrest of nearly 1,600 foreign nationals in a sweeping crackdown on internet fraud centres along the Thai border, underscoring both the scale of the illicit industry and mounting pressure from China to rein it in.

 

According to state media, raids between 18 and 22 November targeted Shwe Kokko, a notorious gambling and scam hub in Myawaddy township. Officials reported that 1,590 foreigners who had entered Myanmar illegally were detained, alongside the seizure of thousands of devices: 2,893 computers, more than 21,000 mobile phones, and over 100 Starlink satellite receivers.

 

The junta has faced long‑standing accusations of tolerating scam compounds that have proliferated in Myanmar’s borderlands since the 2021 coup. These centres, often staffed by trafficked workers, generate billions of dollars annually through online romance and business cons.

 

Analysts say the latest raids are partly choreographed to appease Beijing, a key military backer increasingly angered by scams targeting Chinese citizens.

 

On Saturday alone, 223 suspects were detained, including 100 Chinese nationals. Local media broadcast footage of a steamroller crushing rows of confiscated computer monitors and mobile phones at Shwe Kokko.

 

The crackdown follows an AFP investigation revealing widespread use of Starlink satellite receivers at scam compounds. Elon Musk’s company has since disabled more than 2,500 devices in the area.

 

While the junta has trumpeted its campaign as a decisive move against organised fraud, monitors warn that the operations may be more symbolic than substantive, designed to relieve diplomatic pressure without dismantling the lucrative networks that enrich militia allies.

 

A UN report estimated victims across Southeast and East Asia lost up to USD $37 billion in 2023, with global losses likely far higher. The raids highlight both the human toll of trafficking and the international scale of Myanmar’s scam industry.

 

 

-2025-11-24

I wonder what is worse, being hold hostage by the scammers or the authorities. Pretty sure it should have read 'rescued' instead of 'arrested'.