SCMP

An ex-Chinese soldier has revealed how he fled a notorious scam compound in Myanmar, scaling a six-metre wall, smearing himself with cow dung to evade tracking dogs and overpowering an armed guard before reaching safety.

Yang Lei, from northeastern China, said he was captured in March after leading a tour group near the Thai-Myanmar border. The group, including a local guide, was sold to traffickers for cryptocurrency and taken to a compound in Payathonzu, close to the Three Pagodas Pass. He described the site as “KK 2.0”, a successor to the KK Park scam hub raided last year by Myanmar authorities.

Inside, Yang and his companions were beaten as “discipline”. A former motorised infantry soldier, he quickly stood out, earning limited privileges such as a phone call. He used the opportunity to contact Chinese police, before planning his escape.

Yang spotted sandbags and wooden boards near the compound wall and, using his military training, managed to climb over. He was fortunate the wires were not electrified. Wearing only a tank top, shorts and Crocs, he ran into the mountains, covering himself in cow dung to mask his scent from dogs.

At the border, Yang hid for hours before subduing an armed guard with a rope. He crossed into Thailand at dawn, remaining in hiding during the day and moving at night until he reached the Chinese embassy. After waiting for his passport to be reissued, he returned home.

Yang has since shared his ordeal online, warning others about the dangers of scam centres that continue to proliferate along the Thai-Myanmar frontier despite regional crackdowns. He admitted he still suffers nightmares of running through the mountains.

His story has shocked social media users, many calling him a “legend”. But it also highlights the persistence of scam hubs in Myanmar, where thousands of trafficked workers from China, Vietnam and Ethiopia have been forced into online fraud operations.

For Yang, survival was down to training, luck and determination. For the region, his escape is a stark reminder that the fight against scam compounds is far from over.

-2026-05-06

On 5/6/2026 at 11:31 AM, geovalin said:

scam centres that continue to proliferate along the Thai-Myanmar frontier

Nice to see no mention of Cambodia - Thailand take note and take a good look at yourself!!