Myanmar takes down illegal gambling, scam center, arrests thousands

• More than 2,000 people were recently arrested after a military raid in Myanmar on a suspected illegal gambling and scam center
• During the recent raid at KK Park, the military found and seized electronic items, including Starlink satellite internet terminals
• Victims of what is suspected of being a cross-border criminal syndicate were people from around the world

Asian countries, including China, Myanmar, Thailand and India are often tied to online scams and illegal gambling.

Despite the efforts of local law enforcement, such illicit operations are widely spread.

Only recently, more than 2,000 people were arrested during a military raid in Myanmar against a suspected cross-border criminal syndicate.

Army personnel hit KK Park in an operation against illegal gambling, online scams

The raids took place at KK Park, an infamous cybercrime center located near Myawaddy, a trade town near the border of Myanmar and Thailand.

As announced Monday by the local newspaper, Myanmar Alin, the latest raids of the Myanmar army are part of an ongoing operation launched by the country against illegal gambling, online fraud and scams, as well as other international crimes, including money laundering and forced labor.

During the raids, military personnel checked more than 200 buildings, uncovering and seizing different equipment.

According to the local newspaper, 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals were found and seized in the latest operation against illegal gambling and online scams.

Starlink satellite internet terminals can be used for online access in remote locations and grant internet availability even when central power is down.

During the military raid at KK Park, the authorities arrested a total of 2,198 people.

A breakdown provided by the local media outlet suggests that the majority of the detainees, or 1,645, were men, while 445 were women.

Some 100 men, suspected of serving as guards of the infamous scam center, were also detained.

The criminal syndicate targeted people abroad

What's known so far is that the cross-border criminal syndicate operating from KK Park targeted victims across the globe.

Similar to other such operations, illegal gambling, romance scams, as well as investment fraud were among the methods used to defraud unsuspecting people.

However, the cross-border criminal syndicate in Myanmar may have also used forced labor.

This is a common practice in the region that involves luring individuals with job offers and then forcing them to work in the scam centers.

Myanmar isn't the only country in the region affected by the fast-growing scam centers that can be found in Thailand, Cambodia, India, China, and other nearby countries.

While thousands of people were arrested during the recent military raids, it is unclear if the cross-border criminal syndicate has been dismantled.

This is because scam centers are easy to set up, considering that the criminal groups behind them often use ill-gained funds to establish new operations in remote locations.

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