Myanmar Military Detains 2,000 in Raid on Cybercrime Center Near Thai Border
MYAWADDY, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military government announced Monday it detained over 2,100 individuals during a raid on the KK Park complex, a sprawling center alleged to be a hub for cybercrime operations, located on the outskirts of Myawaddy in Kayin state. The operation resulted in the seizure of 30 Starlink satellite internet terminals and equipment, according to state media outlet Myanma Alinn.
The raid targets a region loosely controlled by the Myanmar military and influenced by ethnic minority militias.The military government alleges top leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU),an armed ethnic organization opposed to army rule,were involved in the scam projects at KK Park,claiming a company backed by the KNU leased the land. the KNU, part of the broader armed resistance movement in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, denies any involvement.
KK Park’s location in Myawaddy, a major trading town bordering Thailand, has made it a focal point for concerns about illicit online activities. The complex reportedly housed large-scale cyberscam operations, exploiting individuals through online fraud. This latest crackdown follows previous actions earlier this year and in 2023 aimed at dismantling similar operations within Myanmar.
The military’s statement indicated more than 260 buildings within KK Park were unregistered. Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is not officially licensed to operate in Myanmar, yet hundreds of terminals have been smuggled into the country. SpaceX policy prohibits use of its services for “conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive.”
The operation comes amid increasing pressure from China, Thailand, and Myanmar’s government to combat cross-border cybercrime. In February, a joint operation led to the release of thousands of people trafficked into scam compounds operating in Myanmar’s border areas, often in collaboration with ethnic armed groups.
