Myawaddy, Myanmar – Facing mounting international pressure from the United States, China, and neighboring countries, Myanmar’s junta has launched a major crackdown on online scam centres along its border with Thailand. The move comes after repeated concerns over illegal operations that have defrauded millions worldwide and involved human trafficking, gambling, and cybercrime.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the directive for action came directly from junta leader Min Aung Hlaing following his visit last week to the southeastern city of Hpa-An. During a meeting with the Karen National Army (KNA)—a local militia previously sanctioned by the U.S. for facilitating scams, human trafficking, and smuggling—army officers instructed the group to suppress scam operations immediately.

Scale of the Crackdown

Myanmar state media reported that over 180 buildings have been demolished, more than 1,000 foreign nationals detained, and thousands of computers and mobile phones seized in the operations around Myawaddy, a major hub for scam operations. KNA officials said the militia led the operations, with the military providing support.

“These operations are led by us,” said Naing Maung Zaw, a KNA spokesperson. “Cooperating with the military helps make some processes smoother.”

The crackdown is widely viewed as a response to both regional and global scrutiny. Last week, the U.S. announced a multi-agency “Scam Center Strike Force”, including the FBI and Secret Service, aimed at dismantling scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Thailand has also taken measures, cutting electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to border areas and extraditing high-profile figures such as gambling kingpin She Zhijiang to China.

Background of Scam Centres

Southeast Asia’s scam operations trace back to loosely regulated casinos and online gambling in the 1990s but expanded sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, as criminal networks sought new revenue sources amid lockdowns. Shwe Kokko, one of the largest complexes in Myawaddy, was established in 2017 by Yatai International Holdings and a precursor of the KNA. Initially promoted as a casino and entertainment hub, it has been linked to massive fraud, human trafficking, and illegal online gambling operations.

Experts say international pressure has forced the Myanmar junta to take action. Jason Tower, senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, noted: “Two global powers pushing for a crackdown puts the Myanmar military in a difficult position. The scam centres present a massive threat to global security, and the military can no longer ignore it.”

Regional and Global Implications

The crackdown underscores growing concerns about transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia and the role of semi-autonomous militias in facilitating such operations. It also highlights the influence of U.S. and Chinese diplomatic and law enforcement pressure on Myanmar, which had previously allowed these scam centres to flourish largely unchecked.

While the operations signal a step toward curbing illegal activities, analysts warn that sustaining enforcement across remote border areas will be challenging. Scam operations continue to thrive in parts of Southeast Asia where oversight is limited, posing risks to international financial systems, tourism, and regional security.