Myanmar's Military Raids Notorious Online Scam Operation, Detains Over 2,000
The Myanmar military has launched a major crackdown on an online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining over 2,200 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals. The raid, which was part of ongoing operations to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime, took place in early September and targeted KK Park, a notorious cybercrime centre.
According to state media, the army raided the compound and seized equipment including 30 sets of Starlink terminals, as well as more than 260 unregistered buildings. The detentions have raised concerns about human trafficking and forced labor, with many victims reportedly being recruited from other countries under false pretences.
KK Park has been a major hub for online scams targeting people worldwide, often using romantic ploys and bogus investment pitches to gain victims' confidence. The operation is also accused of recruiting workers from other countries and holding them captive, forcing them to carry out criminal activities.
The raid comes as Myanmar faces growing international pressure over its human rights record, with the US and Britain recently imposing sanctions on alleged organisers of a major Cambodian cyber scam gang. The military government has denied any involvement in the scams, despite allegations that top leaders of the Karen National Union were involved.
The crackdown is part of a larger effort by Myanmar's military to suppress online crime, which has been a growing concern for authorities. In recent months, there have been several previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in the country, including an operation launched with Thailand and China in February that released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds.
The use of Starlink terminals, which link to SpaceX satellites, has raised concerns about the company's policy allowing for "conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive". The company has not commented on the raid, but its policy bans such activities.
The Myanmar military has launched a major crackdown on an online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining over 2,200 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals. The raid, which was part of ongoing operations to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime, took place in early September and targeted KK Park, a notorious cybercrime centre.
According to state media, the army raided the compound and seized equipment including 30 sets of Starlink terminals, as well as more than 260 unregistered buildings. The detentions have raised concerns about human trafficking and forced labor, with many victims reportedly being recruited from other countries under false pretences.
KK Park has been a major hub for online scams targeting people worldwide, often using romantic ploys and bogus investment pitches to gain victims' confidence. The operation is also accused of recruiting workers from other countries and holding them captive, forcing them to carry out criminal activities.
The raid comes as Myanmar faces growing international pressure over its human rights record, with the US and Britain recently imposing sanctions on alleged organisers of a major Cambodian cyber scam gang. The military government has denied any involvement in the scams, despite allegations that top leaders of the Karen National Union were involved.
The crackdown is part of a larger effort by Myanmar's military to suppress online crime, which has been a growing concern for authorities. In recent months, there have been several previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in the country, including an operation launched with Thailand and China in February that released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds.
The use of Starlink terminals, which link to SpaceX satellites, has raised concerns about the company's policy allowing for "conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive". The company has not commented on the raid, but its policy bans such activities.