Myanmar scam crackdown frees over 7,000 people

The Karen Border Guard Force (Karen BGF) has uncovered more than 7,000 foreign nationals during a crackdown on online scam operations in Myawaddy, Karen State over the last 10 days. Among them, over 4,000 are Chinese nationals, according to Thai news agencies and press statements.In continuous raids starting on February 14, the Karen BGF, an ethnic armed organisation aligned with the Myanmar junta, has uncovered 7,141 people from 28 countries involved in Chinese-led cyber fraud operations. The BGF and the Myanmar military are now reportedly working with Thai authorities to repatriate the victims to their home countries.Shwe Kokko, a town in Myanmar's Karen State, has become a hub for online scams and human trafficking, primarily operated by Chinese crime syndicates. In raids, thousands have been freed in recent days. The largest groups among those found include 4,860 Chinese, 572 Vietnamese, and 526 Indians, with smaller numbers from various other countries.In a large hall, about 100 Chinese nationals gathered as an interpreter reassured them in Chinese, explaining that authorities were coordinating efforts and collecting information for arrangements.After Thailand cut power, fuel, and internet to Myawaddy, Three Pagodas Pass, and Tachileik, the Karen BGF and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) began searching for those involved, seeking out criminal suspects and victims of trafficking. The crackdown comes just weeks after the Karen BGF held an emergency meeting with the Chinese 'business people’ in the border area in efforts to reduce the scale of human trafficking and reports of violence taking place in the centres. The BGF initially transferred 61 people, and DKBA 260, but after increased pressure, repatriations were taken over by the junta.On February 24, the junta announced that between January 30 and February 25, the military identified 2,538 illegal foreign entrants in Myanmar. Of these, 673 were transferred through Thailand, while the remaining 1,865 are awaiting repatriation.Starting from February 20, charter flights have been transporting mostly Chinese nationals from Mae Sot International Airport in Thailand to Nanjing Airport in China, with at least 800 people repatriated so far.It has been widely reported that the online scam operations lure international job seekers through deception. After bringing them into Thailand or another regional transit country, the syndicates detain them, often threatening torture if they fail to carry out their assigned work. The UN estimates at least 120,000 people have been enslaved in Myanmar alone, while tens of thousands of others are trapped in Cambodia, Vietnam, The Philippines and beyond. The disappearance of a Chinese film actor at the Myanmar-Thai border sparked the crackdown on Myawaddy’s scam operations. In response, China sent a deputy minister to oversee the repatriation process. The Chinese minister requested the Thai government to implement four measures, including continuing the cutoffs to the three Myanmar border towns.Meanwhile, the BGF has stated it will separately repatriate six scam leaders who they suspect to be responsible for much of the human trafficking occuring in the area. The criminal suspects are currently detained by the Karen armed groups in Myawaddy. In a statement given to the Thai press, a DKBA official said they were working to track down others involved in the criminal enterprises, but were facing difficulties as there could be hundreds of people involved.The DKBA said repatriation is delayed due to verification requirements imposed by Myanmar’s military junta. So far, the junta has verified over 2,500 people, transferring more than 600 while over 1,800 await repatriation.For years, experts have pointed out that these sophisticated operations require protection and resources. In Myanmar, this protection was reportedly offered by both the DKBA and the Karen BGF. The Karen armed groups, already known for their ties to the junta and for corruption, are allegedly involved in offering the Chinese gangs access to electricity, internet, and other resources for a cut of the profits.In recent weeks, the Thai government said they are reportedly seeking an arrest warrant for the leader of the Karen BGF, Colonel Saw Chit Thu and others in his circle. Thai authorities believe he is suspected of involvement in the Chinese syndicates’ expansion of their illicit operations across Myawaddy. Human rights groups and other watchdog agencies have also called for Saw Chit Tu’s arrest in recent days. Thousands of survivors of human trafficking have been uncovered in new raids across Myawaddy, Karen State, in recent weeks. (Photo: Mae Sot Media)

Myanmar scam crackdown frees over 7,000 people

Chinese nationals make up the majority of those found in Karen BGF raids on cyber fraud operations

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