Myanmar’s military has shut down an online scamming operation and detained more than 2,000 people, according to state media on Monday.
Dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals were also seized during the raid near the border with Thailand.
Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyber scam operations, which are responsible for taking money from people around the world through scams, which usually involve gaining the trust of victims online with romantic advances or other tricks.
Cyber fraud centers are increasing
In recent years, cyber scam centers have become notorious for recruiting workers from other countries under false pretenses. Individuals are promised legitimate jobs and then taken hostage and forced to carry out criminal activities.
On Monday, the military raided KK Park, a well-documented cybercrime hub, the Myanmar Allin newspaper reported.
The move came as part of an operation launched in early September to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling and cross-border cyber crime.
Unlicensed Starlink terminals seized
KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border with Thailand in Myanmar’s Kayin State.
The area is not only under the control of Myanmar’s junta, but also comes under the influence of ethnic minority militias.
Further details of the report said the military assured that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, and equipment including 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals were seized.
Starlink is part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and the terminals are connected to its satellites, but the company is not licensed to operate in Myanmar. Hundreds of the terminals are said to have been smuggled into the Southeast Asian nation in recent years.
Additionally, 2,198 persons were also detained during the raid in KK Park, although their nationality was not known.
The army has accused the armed ethnic organization of running a cyber crime center.
Military government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun claimed in a statement that top Karen National Union leaders were involved in scam projects in KK Park.
The Karen are an armed ethnic organization that opposes military rule and are part of the larger armed resistance movement in Myanmar’s civil war.
He has denied any involvement in the scams. The claims against them are based on the fact that the group allegedly owns and leases the land on which KK Park is located.
Edited by: Elisabeth Schumacher