Take them back
Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC)-controlled governing military junta has told the international community to take back 100s of foreign nationals it recently arrested in a crackdown on the country’s infamous scam centers.
According to reports on Sunday, the SAC military junta arrested 516 people, including 225 Chinese nationals, for online gambling in raids on the scam centers of Myawaddy, Shwe Kokko, and KK Park in Myanmar’s eastern Kayin state bordering Thailand.
different religions, morals, and personalities.”
The junta in November arrested another 346 people in a raid on Shwe Kokko, and now the Colonel who led the recent crackdown operations stating that authorities were struggling to deal with the detainees of “different religions, morals and personalities.”
Minister for Security and Border Affairs of the Kayin State Government, Colonel Min Thu Kyaw, stated: “We want the international community to come and call them quickly. It would be more convenient if they call them back as soon as possible.”
Scam centers in the spotlight
Colonel Min said according to the Australian Broadcasting Service that most of the 1,655 deportees are being held at town’s sport complex and in buildings controlled by the Karen National Army (KNA) and “repurposed scam compounds.”
The Colonel stated most of those causing deportation delays were from Africa, with lack of embassies in Myanmar slowing their deportation process “to as long as five months.”
videos and photos showing buildings being demolished
According to reports, Myanmar’s state-run television channel has recently released footage of SAC military junta operations at scam centers near Myawaddy, “including videos and photos showing buildings being demolished with explosives and bulldozers.”
Since the US Treasury sanctioned 20 firms and individuals for their involvement in Myanmar scam centers in September, the SAC a month later arrested 2,000 people at KK Park, stating it had seized dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals. Elon Musk’s SpaceX later disabled 1000s of the devices following a Congressional probe.
Military mix
Myanmar has been ruled by military chief Min Aung Hlaing since a 2021 coup, and while juntas loyal to him are racking up raids, outside observers believe “the masterminds of the scam operations continue to operate in other locations.”
According to reports, the SAC-controlled KNA division formerly known as the Karen Border Guard Force, has claimed credit for taking part in the recent crackdown.
International investigations have, however, claimed a KNA division provided security at KK Park. In May, the US Treasury blacklisted the KNA as a “transnational criminal organization” and sanctioned three of its leaders.
