Myanmar Razes High‑Rise in Scam Crackdown Near Thai Border

Myanmar’s military has demolished a 13‑storey tower in the Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone as part of a sweeping crackdown on Chinese‑backed online scam networks operating along the Thai border. The operation, carried out on Thursday by the 44th Infantry Division with support from the Border Guard Force and Kayin State’s Ministry of Border Affairs, targeted a building long suspected of housing criminal operations.

Shwe Kokko, directly opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot district, has become notorious in recent years for scam compounds, forced labour and cross‑border criminal activity. The demolition follows a similar operation on Wednesday, when another high‑rise was levelled, drawing intense interest from residents on both sides of the frontier.

Thai authorities, who monitored the blast from Mae Sot, confirmed that no debris or shock impact reached Thai territory. Security officials say they expect more demolitions in the coming days, with Myanmar signalling its intention to dismantle more than 60 buildings linked to illicit online operations. The full campaign is expected to take several months.

The move comes amid growing regional pressure on Myanmar to tackle scam syndicates, many of which are believed to be run by Chinese nationals and have trafficked thousands of workers from across Asia. These compounds have been tied to large‑scale fraud, money laundering and violent coercion, prompting international concern.

Thai security forces are preparing for potential spillover effects, including the possibility of suspects fleeing across the border. Officials say they are coordinating closely with their Myanmar counterparts to minimise disruption to communities in Mae Sot and Shwe Kokko, both of which rely heavily on cross‑border trade.

The demolitions mark one of the most visible attempts yet by Myanmar’s authorities to reclaim control of the semi‑autonomous zone, which has long operated beyond effective state oversight. Whether the campaign will meaningfully disrupt the powerful networks behind the scam industry remains uncertain, but for now, the skyline of Shwe Kokko is beginning to change — one demolished tower at a time.

-2025-12-04