Myanmar relocates border scam hubs before Thai talks

The Irrawaddy

Just days before Min Aung Hlaing travelled to Thailand to pledge joint action against cross‑border scams, pro‑regime militias in Karen State quietly shifted thousands of Chinese nationals deeper into Myanmar, eyewitnesses say.

Convoys escorted by military vehicles moved nearly 1,000 workers from compounds along the Moei River into Shwe Kokko and other sites in late July. Witnesses described the transfers as relocations rather than arrests, with workers using phones freely during the journey.

The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) is accused of orchestrating the moves, despite regime claims of detaining hundreds in raids. Human rights monitors and local sources insist scam centres were simply rebuilt inland after satellite images exposed their locations.

The timing coincided with Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Bangkok, where he promised cooperation against cyber‑fraud. Yet locals allege commanders profited from the relocations, with trafficking fees reaching hundreds of millions of baht.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime recently identified Myanmar as a hub in the region’s $114 billion scam economy, fuelled by lawlessness since the 2021 coup. For residents of Karen State, the latest transfers highlight how entrenched scam operations remain despite international pressure.

-2026-08-11