Karen BGF carries out raids in Shwe Kokko, a crime hub under its control

The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), the junta-aligned armed group that controls the crime hub of Shwe Kokko in Karen (Kayin) State, carried out a series of raids on suspected scam centres in the town on Friday, according to sources. The move comes as the group faces growing pressure from China and neighbouring Thailand to curtail illegal activities in areas under its control. In response, it formed a special task force on Wednesday to combat online financial fraud and human trafficking operations, sources told Myanmar Now. Friday’s crackdown began at around 6am, with Karen BGF forces reportedly entering several high-rise buildings in Shwe Kokko. At least 2,000 workers involved in fraudulent activities are being held within these premises, a source who works in the town said. “They haven’t entered the houses yet. They’re just going into the big high-rise buildings. There has been a commotion since this morning,” said the source. It was unclear at the time of reporting whether any arrests had been made. Around 30 Karen BGF troops took part in the raids, according to a source who is involved in scam activities in Shwe Kokko. They were accompanied by a Chinese individual, he added. “Today, a Chinese man and some Karen soldiers came and asked if there were any victims or people who wanted to return. No one came forward,” the source said. The source also said that a number of Chinese and Malaysian nationals were taken away to another building to be interrogated. He mentioned that a large building known as Shwe Dinga Myaing had been shut down. According to the source, many people were released from these locations, including Shwe Dinga Myaing, just two days ago. “Recently, they’ve begun releasing Myanmar workers. As for the Chinese detainees, their boss hasn’t allowed them to see anyone,” he said. The BGF has confirmed reports that it is working to intercept human trafficking networks operating in areas near the Thailand-Myanmar border. Major Naing Maung Zaw, a Karen BGF spokesperson, said that the group would continue to round up the victims and repatriate them after thorough investigations. “The main concern is that Thailand can only accept around 500 people per day, so we have to be careful about managing the numbers. We will also conduct further investigations here,” he said. The Karen BGF spokesperson also mentioned that a team was formed to oversee and transport the victims to Thailand, and they are working actively on this. On Wednesday, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, another ethnic Karen armed group active in the area, also transferred 261 foreign nationals to Thai authorities. No details about the released individuals have been disclosed. Last week, Thailand announced that it was cutting off electricity and fuel supplies to Myanmar border towns harbouring scam centres tied to human trafficking and online fraud. This was followed earlier this week by reports that Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations was preparing to arrest three senior members of the Karen BGF, including its top leader Colonel Saw Chit Thu, for their involvement in these criminal activities. According to a report released last year by Justice For Myanmar, the BGF runs an extensive network of illegal enterprises, many of them connected to criminal gangs from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. The report also accuses Myanmar’s junta of supporting and protecting these operations. Another report from the United States Institute of Peace revealed that BGF leaders earned annual profits of US$192 million by providing venues for criminal activities and offering essential services like electricity, internet, and security. The report also noted that 50 percent of the income generated went to Myanmar’s military junta. The Chinese government has expressed concern about the impact of these activities on public welfare and has said it will continue to work with Myanmar and Thailand to dismantle these illegal networks. Maj-Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for Myanmar’s military regime, claimed on Saturday that the junta was actively working with international partners to combat online scams and illegal gambling operations. “The Myanmar government is collaborating internationally to dismantle illegal online gambling, financial fraud, and scam syndicates,” he said. According to Zaw Min Tun, the regime helped to secure the release of 61 individuals who had been trafficked to work in online scam centres in the Shwe Kokko and KK Park areas to Thailand. These victims included 39 Chinese nationals, 13 Indians, five Indonesians, one Kazakh, one Ethiopian, one Pakistani, and one Malaysian, he said.

Karen BGF carries out raids in Shwe Kokko, a crime hub under its control

The move comes amid growing pressure from Chinese and Thai authorities over scam centres operating along the Thai-Myanmar border

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