In a recent and extensive operation targeting online gambling and fraudulent enterprises, Myanmar’s ruling regime announced the apprehension of 81 individuals, alongside five security personnel, over three days in Mongyai Township, located in the northern Shan State. This crackdown reflects the junta’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal activities that have proliferated since the military coup in 2021.
On Wednesday, during a raid on an online scam hub in the southeastern part of the township, tensions escalated into a violent encounter with armed guards. The regime reported that this confrontation resulted in the deaths of two security guards and the capture of five additional individuals involved in the operation.
The authorities also disclosed that eight Chinese nationals and seven local residents were among those arrested, all linked to the online scam operations. In conjunction with these arrests, law enforcement seized an impressive array of equipment, including approximately 180 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and two StarLink internet devices—tools essential for facilitating these illicit activities.
In a related note, the Irrawaddy news outlet highlighted its inability to verify the regime’s claims regarding these detentions independently. However, the junta asserted that an additional 66 people were detained over Thursday and Friday, comprising 21 Chinese and 18 Vietnamese nationals, further illustrating the extent of their crackdown in Mongyai.
Moving forward, the regime has vowed to take legal action against those implicated in online scams and plans to repatriate detained foreigners to their respective countries. This commitment comes amidst rising concerns over cross-border crime and its implications for regional stability.
In a significant move on Wednesday, Thailand responded to the escalating threat posed by these scams by cutting off electricity, internet services, and fuel supplies to five border regions in Myanmar. This included areas under the control of the Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF), an ally of the junta situated in Myawaddy Township. Thai officials cited national security risks as the primary reason for this decisive action.
The increase in online scam centres has been notable since the military coup, with many operators fleeing to Myawaddy after being displaced by anti-regime efforts dubbed Operation 1027 in northern Shan State last year. As these operations continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how both Myanmar’s regime and neighbouring countries will navigate the challenges posed by these criminal enterprises.
In a significant move, Thailand has set its sights on the Shwe Koko “new city” initiative, a controversial project overseen by Colonel Saw Chit Thu, an ally of the junta and commander of the Border Guard Force (BGF). This undertaking is a collaborative effort with Yatai International, a company linked to She Zhejiang, a Chinese national who holds Cambodian citizenship and is currently sought after by authorities in China.
The BGF’s involvement in dubious activities came to light in May of the previous year when the activist group Justice for Myanmar disclosed alarming information. They uncovered that the BGF was entangled in a web of online scams, illegal casinos, and gambling operations operating within Karen State, drawing attention to the darker side of this burgeoning venture.
Recently, Saw Chit Thu, alongside Myanmar’s military regime, publicly declared their intent to combat these fraudulent enterprises, asserting their commitment to collaborate with international organisations in this endeavour. However, the sincerity of these claims remains under scrutiny, given their prior associations with illicit activities.
Just this week, a poignant development unfolded as the regime and BGF took action by transferring 61 victims of human trafficking to Thai authorities. These individuals, hailing from seven different countries, had been coerced into working at various online scam centres, highlighting the grim reality of exploitation that persists within this controversial project. As the story continues to evolve, the implications of these actions resonate far beyond the borders of Thailand and Myanmar, shedding light on a complex web of criminality and international cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
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