Myanmar army raids a major cybercrime center and arrests more than 2,000 people | news

The ruling military junta in Myanmar (Burma) announced a raid on one of the worst electronic fraud centers in the country and confiscated Starlink devices for connecting to the Internet via satellite, after an investigation revealed a significant increase in their use within the illegal fraud industry that generates billions of dollars.

State media reported that the army stopped an Internet scam near the border with Thailand, arrested more than two thousand people and confiscated dozens of Starlink stations.

Myanmar is known for hosting online scams during which people all over the world are scammed. These operations usually involve gaining the trust of victims online through romance scams and fake investment letters.

These centers are also known for luring workers from other countries under false pretenses, promising them legitimate jobs, then detaining them and forcing them to engage in criminal activities.

The scams came into the international spotlight last week when the United States and Britain imposed sanctions against the organizers of a major Cambodian wire fraud ring, and a US federal court in New York indicted a person suspected of being the ring’s leader.

A joint campaign launched by the Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities since last February has led to the deportation of thousands suspected of involvement in electronic fraud, while experts confirm that some workers in this industry participate voluntarily, while others are forced to do so by organized criminal networks.

However, an investigation published by the French news agency – a few days ago – revealed accelerated construction work on the sites of the fraud centers, and the installation of satellite Internet devices belonging to the “Starlink” company owned by Elon Musk on their roofs.

The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that the army “carried out operations in Kay Kay Park near the border between Myanmar and Thailand” and that it “confiscated 30 Starlink receivers and their accessories.”

However, this number represents only a small portion of the “Starlink” devices that the French agency identified using satellite images and aerial photography via drones, as the images showed the presence of about 80 Internet dishes on the roof of only one building inside the “Kai Kai Park” complex.

The US Congressional Joint Economic Committee reported that it had launched an investigation into Starlink’s relationship with the centers. Although she can subpoena Musk for a hearing, she cannot force him to testify.

The Global New Light of Myanmar also reported that military forces occupied about 200 buildings and found about 2,200 workers at the site, while 15 “Chinese fraudsters” were arrested for their involvement in “gambling, Internet fraud and other criminal activities” in the vicinity of Kay Kay Park.

Border fraud centers are usually run by Chinese criminal groups, according to analysts, and supervised by militias from Myanmar who receive tacit support from the ruling military junta in exchange for ensuring security in those areas. But its loyalties changed as international pressure increased.