Myanmar Spring Chronicle – January 16 Viewpoint
MoeMaKa, January 17, 2025
Casino and Online Scam Gangs at the Thailand-Myanmar Border and Pressure from China
Buildings along the Moei River, near the northern and southern areas of Myawaddy, at the Thailand-Myanmar border, have turned into de facto prisons. These buildings, according to recent reports, have been used to lure and detain individuals from various Asian countries and a few South American nations, forcing them into scams and other illegal activities.
A notable case involved a well-known Chinese actor who was reportedly abducted from Bangkok and taken to Mae Sot, crossing illegally into Myanmar. He was forced into an online scam operation but later managed to escape. This incident garnered international attention, revealing the dark operations in areas controlled by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), now rebranded as the Karen National Alliance (KNA). These areas, near Myawaddy, have long been hubs of illicit activity.
The casino and scam operations at the Thailand-Myanmar border, particularly in Karen State, have evolved significantly. With the decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, casino owners shifted to online fraud to sustain their businesses. They recruited workers not only from neighboring countries but also from as far as developed nations, using deceptive promises of high-paying jobs.
Notably, regions like northern Shan State, Myawaddy in Karen State, and Cambodia’s Sihanoukville have emerged as prominent bases for these online scam syndicates. Last year, due to Chinese pressure, several scam operations in Wa and Kokang territories in northern Shan State were dismantled. Ethnic armed groups, Myanmar military units, and local police detained scam operators and handed over Chinese nationals to authorities. However, some operations relocated to other parts of Myanmar or went underground.
The focus has now shifted to Myawaddy, a critical border area. Unlike northern Shan State, Chinese authorities may find it harder to exert direct pressure here. Instead, Thailand and Myanmar are expected to collaborate, with Thailand likely intensifying surveillance at its border and pressuring armed groups operating in Myanmar.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently urged ASEAN nations to address cross-border criminal networks like these scam operations. Meanwhile, Thailand, whose tourism industry has been affected, is expected to take firm action against these networks.
However, Myanmar’s military regime faces challenges in tackling these operations. The BGF, which has operated under the regime’s control for years, declared its separation last year. Despite this, evidence suggests that the BGF provided support to military troops during clashes in Myawaddy, indicating ongoing ties.
Additionally, similar operations reportedly exist in other areas like the Three Pagodas Pass in Mon State, where scam operations are allegedly run by Chinese nationals under the protection of DKBA commanders.
Given these circumstances, it is anticipated that anti-crime operations targeting scam networks in areas like Myawaddy and Three Pagodas Pass could lead to escalating competition among armed groups vying for control.