By Hanthar Non
Sources familiar with the situation say that after negotiations between the Myanmar military and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF/KNA), thousands of workers—including those at the KK Park cyber scam complex, about ten miles from Myawaddy—have been allowed to leave.
On October 19, the military staged what appeared to be a mock raid on KK Park, a major scam center reportedly controlled by Chinese crime syndicates. Following the operation, workers from the 500-acre compound were permitted to flee.
“It’s just for show. They’re acting for the cameras,” commented a Karen political analyst. “Nothing happened without coordination between the military and BGF/KNA. It’s a staged operation. You’ll soon see news that the army raided a cyber scam center. Nothing about it is genuine.”
The workers who fled include citizens from at least ten countries—China, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kenya, and others—with Chinese nationals making up the majority.
Those leaving were not only from KK Park itself but also from nearby scam compounds, according to sources familiar with the cybercrime network.
“As of October 23, people are still fleeing. The BGF is even providing vehicles for Myanmar workers who want to return home,” said a 40-year-old resident of Myawaddy familiar with the operations. “Foreigners, though, are being moved quietly to avoid public attention. Those they don’t want are sent across to Thailand.”
However, skilled technicians and key personnel essential to the cyber operations have reportedly been relocated to secure locations by the BGF/KNA, according to local sources.
Thai media reported that Thai authorities are now coordinating with related countries to repatriate more than 500 foreign workers who escaped from scam centers around Myawaddy.
“A lot of the Myanmar nationals don’t dare return home—they’re afraid of conscription. Many are hiding or renting houses in Myawaddy, waiting to see what happens,” said a broker based in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Reports also suggest that the BGF/KNA, with the military’s assistance, has transferred some cyber workers to other towns under its control, including Myawaddy, Hpa-An, Mawlamyine, and Payathonsu. The Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) has not been able to verify these claims.
“It seems they’ve reached a breaking point. International pressure is mounting, and the military is also squeezing them from multiple sides,” said a political analyst. “So the BGF is clearing out as much as possible. They’re starting to realize they can’t continue as before.”
According to human rights organizations, more than 300 cyber scam operations are active along the Thaungyin River border zone—including Shwe Kokko, Ingyin Myaing, KK Park, Metta Thalay, 100-Acre, Shwe Pyi Taw Myine, AA Site, Kyauk Khet, and Myawaddy town—spanning areas between Myanmar’s Karen State and Thailand.
These centers are heavily funded by Chinese investors and protected by armed groups such as the Karen BGF/KNA, DKBA, and certain Karen armed factions, with some Myanmar military officers reportedly sharing profits.
The military and some groups have accused certain high-ranking KNU leaders of being linked to the scam industry, though the KNU has strongly denied any involvement.
Leaders of the BGF, headed by Colonel Saw Chit Thu—often described as the “godfather” of the cybercrime empire—are currently under Western sanctions and facing increasing pressure from neighboring countries, including China.
After coordinating with the BGF, the military launched what appears to be a staged incursion into scam centers around Myawaddy, including KK Park.
According to the junta’s October 19 statement, the raid on KK Park led to the seizure of 30 Starlink terminals and the detention of nearly 2,000 workers. However, no photos of those arrested were released.
“If they can’t continue operations there, they’ll just move elsewhere,” said a 35-year-old woman from Myawaddy. “The key people were relocated long ago. There are plenty of places to go. This is just how they operate—it’s nothing new.”
She added that this may be the best opportunity in a long time for victims—including those trapped in online scam compounds and subjected to forced labor and abuse—to finally escape.
According to official statements, nearly 10,000 trafficked workers have been repatriated this year through joint efforts between Thailand, Myanmar, and China, following crackdowns along the border.
However, because the scam centers continue to operate, human trafficking and related crimes still pose major threats to Thailand’s national security. To curb these activities, electricity, fuel, and internet access have been cut off for over seven months in five border zones where cybercrime centers are concentrated.
A former worker who spent nearly four years at a scam complex in Shwe Kokko said, “I’ve never seen a release like this before—this many people being let go. Usually, after raids, only a few are released for show. But for such a big business, it’s hard to believe they’ll really shut it down. I think the Chinese bosses have already set up new bases elsewhere.”
