Myanmar’s military has closed a large-scale online scam center near the Thai border, detaining more than 2,000 people and confiscating dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, state media reported Monday.

Myanmar has long been a hotspot for cyberscam operations, often targeting victims worldwide through fake romantic relationships and fraudulent investment schemes. These centers frequently recruit foreign workers under false promises of legitimate employment, only to coerce them into illegal activities.

The raids come amid international scrutiny, following U.S. and U.K. sanctions against organizers of a major Cambodian cybercrime gang and the indictment of its alleged ringleader in New York.

According to the Myanma Alinn newspaper, the military raided KK Park in Myawaddy, Kayin state, beginning in early September, as part of efforts to combat online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime. The report showed photos of seized Starlink equipment and soldiers during the raid, though the exact timing was unclear.

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Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun alleged that leaders of the Karen National Union were linked to the scams, though the ethnic group denied involvement. The army found more than 260 unregistered buildings at the site and seized 30 Starlink terminals. The nationalities of the detainees were not disclosed.

Starlink, part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, does not have a licensed presence in Myanmar, though hundreds of terminals have been smuggled into the country. Previous crackdowns on cybercrime centers occurred in 2023 and earlier this year, including a February operation that freed thousands of trafficked workers from scam compounds with the help of ethnic armed groups.

Source: AP