More than 1,000 individuals, primarily from China, have crossed into Thailand from Myanmar this week, according to Thai officials. This mass movement occurred following a raid by the Myanmar military on one of the largest scam operations in the country.
The extensive cyberscam hubs, where fraudsters deceive victims through online scams, have thrived along Myanmar”s border during the ongoing civil conflict. Experts indicate that while some individuals are trafficked into these heavily fortified centers, others voluntarily participate, lured by the prospects of potentially higher earnings in the multibillion-dollar illicit industry compared to their home countries.
The Tak provincial office of Thailand reported that from Wednesday to Friday morning, 1,049 individuals entered the Mae Sot district from Myanmar, a significant increase from the 677 who had escaped the KK Park scam compound by Thursday morning. Among those who crossed the border were nationals from various countries, including India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Myanmar, as stated in the office”s announcement. The Thai Immigration Bureau noted that most arrivals were men, predominantly from China.
The raid on KK Park, situated just across the border from Thailand, was confirmed by Myanmar”s ruling junta, which also reported the seizure of Starlink satellite internet devices. An investigation by AFP highlighted that the use of these devices had surged within these scam compounds in recent months. SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, revealed that it had disabled over 2,500 Starlink devices located in Myanmar”s scam centers.
Sawanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, the deputy governor of Tak province, informed AFP that authorities suspect most of the recent entrants into Thailand originated from KK Park, although investigations are ongoing. He mentioned that those who crossed the border will be screened to ascertain if they are victims of human trafficking. If not, they could face charges for illegal border crossing.
Footage broadcasted by Thai PBS depicted individuals using foam boxes to float across a river into Thailand. One Thai woman recounted, “I was sleeping when I heard loud knocking and people shouting at us in Chinese. They were carrying guns.”
The Tak authorities also released an image showing several men seated on the ground next to their luggage while a line of Thai security personnel stood nearby. With approximately 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP serves as a leading global news agency, providing timely, comprehensive, and verified coverage of significant events that impact daily life.
