The Myanmar army, in coordination with the armed group Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), entered Shwe Kokko town on 18/11. The town, located near the Thai border, is known for buildings housing online scam groups.

On 23/11, Myanmar authorities announced the arrest of 1,590 foreign nationals who had entered the country illegally during the five-day operation. Their identities and nationalities have not yet been released. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that many of those arrested are Chinese citizens.

Myanmar officials seized 2,893 computers, 21,750 mobile phones, 101 Starlink satellite internet terminals, 21 routers, and supplies used for online scamming and gambling operations.

Buildings in Shwe Kokko town, Myanmar, on 18/11. Photo: Reuters.

This marks the Karen Border Guard Force's second operation against scams in Shwe Kokko this year. Earlier this year, the BGF arrested over 4,000 individuals in Shwe Kokko, but the scam facilities resumed operations a few months later.

A series of scam centers have emerged in Myanmar's border regions. Many foreigners are lured there through recruitment or romance scams, while some voluntarily come to work.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the online scam industry has boomed across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. The amount victims were defrauded of in 2023 is estimated at 37 billion USD, though the true figure could be much higher.

Nguyen Tien (Sources: Reuters, Global New Light of Myanmar, AFP)