Myanmar Military Raids Notorious Cybercrime Hub, Detains Thousands
In a major crackdown, the Myanmar military raided a notorious online scam compound near the Thai border, detaining over 2,200 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, according to state media.
The raid, which began in early September as part of an operation aimed at suppressing online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime, targeted the infamous KK Park cybercrime centre. The compound, located on the outskirts of Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin state, is notorious for hosting scam operations that have defrauded people worldwide with false promises and bogus investment pitches.
The military claimed to have found over 260 unregistered buildings at the compound, seized equipment, including 30 sets of Starlink terminals, which link to Elon Musk's SpaceX satellites. However, it remains unclear when exactly these seizures took place.
The detentions include individuals from various countries, although their nationalities were not specified. The victims often recruit workers under false pretences, promising them legitimate jobs only to force them into carrying out criminal activities.
This latest crackdown comes as international pressure mounts on Myanmar's military government. In recent weeks, the US and UK imposed sanctions on alleged organisers of a major Cambodian cyber-scam gang, with its alleged ringleader indicted by a federal court in New York.
The raid at KK Park has sparked renewed tensions between the military government and ethnic minority militias that control parts of the border region. Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun, the military spokesperson, accused top leaders of the Karen National Union of being involved in scam projects at the compound, a claim previously made but denied by the group.
As the situation continues to unfold, concerns remain about the use of smuggled Starlink terminals, which do not have licensed operations in Myanmar. SpaceX's policy bars "conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive", raising questions about whether the seized equipment will be returned or destroyed.
Previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in Myanmar have been reported earlier this year and in 2023, with pressure from China contributing to a joint operation between Thailand and Myanmar to release thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds.
In a major crackdown, the Myanmar military raided a notorious online scam compound near the Thai border, detaining over 2,200 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, according to state media.
The raid, which began in early September as part of an operation aimed at suppressing online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime, targeted the infamous KK Park cybercrime centre. The compound, located on the outskirts of Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin state, is notorious for hosting scam operations that have defrauded people worldwide with false promises and bogus investment pitches.
The military claimed to have found over 260 unregistered buildings at the compound, seized equipment, including 30 sets of Starlink terminals, which link to Elon Musk's SpaceX satellites. However, it remains unclear when exactly these seizures took place.
The detentions include individuals from various countries, although their nationalities were not specified. The victims often recruit workers under false pretences, promising them legitimate jobs only to force them into carrying out criminal activities.
This latest crackdown comes as international pressure mounts on Myanmar's military government. In recent weeks, the US and UK imposed sanctions on alleged organisers of a major Cambodian cyber-scam gang, with its alleged ringleader indicted by a federal court in New York.
The raid at KK Park has sparked renewed tensions between the military government and ethnic minority militias that control parts of the border region. Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun, the military spokesperson, accused top leaders of the Karen National Union of being involved in scam projects at the compound, a claim previously made but denied by the group.
As the situation continues to unfold, concerns remain about the use of smuggled Starlink terminals, which do not have licensed operations in Myanmar. SpaceX's policy bars "conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive", raising questions about whether the seized equipment will be returned or destroyed.
Previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in Myanmar have been reported earlier this year and in 2023, with pressure from China contributing to a joint operation between Thailand and Myanmar to release thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds.
my mind is blown that they were using starlink terminals without permission, like who does that? 
spaceX needs to get its act together on this one and make sure their tech isn't being used for evil. also, 2k+ detentions? that's a lot of people caught in the crossfire. hope these folks get a fair shake and some decent reprieve.
they're just trying to make ends meet but get caught up in scams and end up getting arrested 
I wonder how many of them even knew they were involved in something shady when they got recruited 
and what about the ones who were already working there? Do they deserve punishment or was it more of a 'you break the law, you get broken' situation 
.
and what about all those ppl who got recruited under false pretences? poor victims 
anyway gotta keep an eye on this situation 
The military's latest move is super shady. Like, they're targeting these online scam hubs and detaining thousands, but have they thought about the impact on local businesses and workers who might be forced into these crimes? 
It's not just about cybercrime, it's about human rights too. We need more transparency and accountability here 
It's just another example of how these online communities are always playing catch-up, trying to stay ahead of the scammers who keep finding ways to adapt...
. I mean, who sets up an entire cybercrime hub without following the rules? It's like they thought they were above the law. And now they're going after the victims, too... recruiting people under false pretences and forcing them to work for these scams. That's just wrong 
.
. how did these scammers even get their hands on that stuff? is it just a case of 'whoever can afford the internet, gets the internet' 
?
? or is there some bigger plan at play here that we're not seeing? 
that the military is being super careful about the starlink stuff, they don't wanna mess with elon's team 
but for real tho, this kk park raid is like the tip of the iceberg - there are like, tons more scammers operating under the radar. and those detentions? like, thousands more people were likely involved, not just 2k 
. anywayz back to this news, idk if its true tho about the military raid and detentions...like how many ppl r we talkin bout here? 2200 seems crazy! 
i'm so proud of the myanmar military for taking down those cybercrime hubs!!! 
it's about time someone did something about it. and lol what even is starlink 
like, isn't that a legit tech company? 
. kudos to the military for taking action! 
it's crazy how this operation was happening right under their noses 
but at the same time, it's also worrying to think about the human rights situation in Myanmar and the potential backlash from the military government 
i mean we need stricter laws 2 prevent this kind of thing 2 happen 1st place but now thats just 1 big mess 4 everyone involved 
... It's wild to think that thousands of lives got disrupted by people making fake promises & breaking trust on the internet. The question is, where do we draw the line? Should our globalised world be a space for zero-risk transactions or does the freedom come with a cost? These cyber-scam operations might seem like just another form of human greed, but it's also a symptom of deeper issues – people desperate to escape their reality. Meanwhile, international pressure mounts, but what about the lives lost along the way? 
Myanmar's cybercrime crackdown is just the beginning...
it's crazy to think about all those people being recruited under false pretences & forced into doing scamy things