The Myanmar military says it has captured one of the most notorious scam compounds on the border with Thailand, as it reclaims key territory it lost in the ongoing civil war. KK Park, south of the border town of Myawaddy, has been synonymous with online fraud, money laundering and human trafficking for the past five years. Thousands of people were lured to the compound with the promise of well-paid jobs, and then forced to run elaborate scams, stealing billions of dollars from victims all over the world.
The military, long tainted by its links to the scam business, now says it has taken the complex as it expands control around Myawaddy, the main trade link to Thailand. In recent weeks the military, or junta, has pushed back insurgents in several parts of Myanmar, aiming to maximise the number of places where it can hold a planned election, starting in December.
It still doesn't control large swathes of the country, which has been torn apart by conflict since a military coup in February 2021. The election has been dismissed as a sham by opposition forces who have vowed to block it in areas they hold.
KK Park began with a lease agreement in early 2020 to build an industrial park between the Karen National Union (KNU), the ethnic insurgent group which controls much of this region, and a little-known Hong Kong listed company, Huanya International.
Researchers believe there are links between Huanya and a prominent Chinese underworld figure Wan Kuok Koi, better known as Broken Tooth, who has since invested in other scam centres on the border.
The complex expanded rapidly and is easily visible from the Thai side of the border. Those who managed to escape from it describe a brutal regime imposed on the thousands of people, many from African countries, who were held there, forced to work long hours, with torture and beatings inflicted on those who failed to meet targets.
A statement by the junta's information ministry said its forces had 'cleared' KK Park, releasing more than 2,000 workers and confiscating 30 of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite terminals – widely used by scam centres for online activities.
The military's claims come amid international pressure, specifically from China, to do more to end illegal businesses run by Chinese syndicates on their border. Earlier this year thousands of Chinese workers were taken from scam compounds and flown back to China, indicating a growing response to international scrutiny.
KK Park is one of at least 30 similar compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border that continue to operate, with tens of thousands of individuals involved in scams. The ongoing struggles for control in the region showcase the intersections of military power, criminal enterprise, and international relations.
The military, long tainted by its links to the scam business, now says it has taken the complex as it expands control around Myawaddy, the main trade link to Thailand. In recent weeks the military, or junta, has pushed back insurgents in several parts of Myanmar, aiming to maximise the number of places where it can hold a planned election, starting in December.
It still doesn't control large swathes of the country, which has been torn apart by conflict since a military coup in February 2021. The election has been dismissed as a sham by opposition forces who have vowed to block it in areas they hold.
KK Park began with a lease agreement in early 2020 to build an industrial park between the Karen National Union (KNU), the ethnic insurgent group which controls much of this region, and a little-known Hong Kong listed company, Huanya International.
Researchers believe there are links between Huanya and a prominent Chinese underworld figure Wan Kuok Koi, better known as Broken Tooth, who has since invested in other scam centres on the border.
The complex expanded rapidly and is easily visible from the Thai side of the border. Those who managed to escape from it describe a brutal regime imposed on the thousands of people, many from African countries, who were held there, forced to work long hours, with torture and beatings inflicted on those who failed to meet targets.
A statement by the junta's information ministry said its forces had 'cleared' KK Park, releasing more than 2,000 workers and confiscating 30 of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite terminals – widely used by scam centres for online activities.
The military's claims come amid international pressure, specifically from China, to do more to end illegal businesses run by Chinese syndicates on their border. Earlier this year thousands of Chinese workers were taken from scam compounds and flown back to China, indicating a growing response to international scrutiny.
KK Park is one of at least 30 similar compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border that continue to operate, with tens of thousands of individuals involved in scams. The ongoing struggles for control in the region showcase the intersections of military power, criminal enterprise, and international relations.
