Combined inspection teams are taking action against telecom fraud, online gambling, and other criminal activities as they investigate whether any illegal operations are being carried out in the Shwekokko area.
THE Myanmar government emphasizes the elimination process of online scams and gambling, which harm the international community as well as the entire world, as a national duty. Security force members and administrative organizations participate in combating the above crime with the sacrifice of life, blood and sweat by using vehicles, machinery and financial costs.
While online fraud and gambling activities are being actively suppressed, the government has instructed that, particularly in the Shwekokko area of Kayin State, measures be taken to prevent online fraud, online gambling, and criminal activities. Starting from yesterday morning, combined investigation teams, including security forces and administrative bodies, have begun the operation to determine whether such activities exist and whether any illegal operations are being conducted. Any findings from these investigations will be acted upon effectively.
Those who committed online fraud and gambling offences entered Myanmar, via Thailand and some neighbouring countries, crossing the border paths illegally. The main perpetrators of these online fraud and gambling activities, including Chinese nationals, recruited and organized individuals through social media. These individuals – some forced to work in these operations from various countries, and some evading justice after committing crimes – have been involved in online fraud activities. Since around 2015, they have operated in several Southeast Asian countries. Following conflicts in some neighbouring countries, they entered and operated in the Myawady area, temporarily controlled by Kayin armed groups, using various methods and means from across the border.
In 2022, infrastructure was constructed, and illegal activities, including telecom fraud and online gambling, were carried out in the Laukkai area of Shan State (North). In response, the Myanmar government, together with China, established a joint bilateral task force to suppress online fraud and gambling activities in the Laukkai area. During these operations, although those apprehended had entered Myanmar illegally, the government, taking into consideration humanitarian concerns and mutual goodwill between countries, investigated them according to the law. A total of 53,388 individuals involved were repatriated to their respective countries. The main perpetrators of the crimes were arrested, detained, and formally handed over to the relevant authorities of the governments concerned.
These telecom fraud and online gambling activities originated from Shan State (North) and reached the Myawady area along the Thailand–Myanmar border. The KK Park area, where Mulaei Alin Company and Tran- Asia International Holding Group (Thailand) began their operations, was established as a project under the pretext of carrying out economic activities for regional development. In the Shwekokko area, where the project was suspended, infrastructure was constructed within locations of the Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group’s site and the Chongkhaed Garden Resort gambling facilities in Myawady Township. Within these areas, online fraud and gambling activities were carried out.
The government, through a trilateral cooperation framework involving Myanmar, Thailand, and China, has been jointly suppressing activities in the area. Security forces carried out operations in the Myawady-Maehtawthalay (KK Park) area, which had been temporarily controlled by the KNLA and KNU terrorist groups and PDF terrorists under the NUG, in October this year, to suppress insurgent elements and were able to reestablish control over the area. In doing so, measures are being implemented to ensure that online fraud and gambling cannot be reestablished in the area and that criminal activities cannot be repeated. Illegally constructed buildings in the area are being demolished zone by zone to completely remove such infrastructure. There are a total of 635 buildings across three zones. As of 17 November, a total of 148 of these buildings have been completely demolished. The remaining 487 buildings will continue to be systematically demolished. The demolition process is being carried out methodically using vehicles for tearing down structures and advanced technology for controlled blasting and dismantling. Since the area is close to a neighbouring country, precautions have been taken to ensure that debris does not cross the border, as confirmed by video records. Because the neighbouring country raised objections, the demolition video records were officially sent to that country as documentation.
Although those apprehended by the government had entered Myanmar illegally from neighbouring countries, humanitarian considerations and mutual goodwill between nations were taken into account. They were investigated according to the law and repatriated to their respective countries. Between 5 October 2023 and 17 November 2025, a total of 68,009 foreign nationals from 52 countries, who were residing in Myanmar illegally, were repatriated according to the regulations of their respective countries. Yesterday morning, during a combined inspection, teams including security forces and administrative bodies inspected the Shwekokko area. Meanwhile, some persons attempted escape to a neighbouring country, and measures are actively in place to intercept and apprehend any such attempts.
During yesterday’s operation, a total of 346 foreigners under verification residing in Myanmar illegally were arrested, and a large amount of necessary equipment used in online fraud and gambling was seized from three buildings illegally constructed in the Shwekokko area. The operation continues at present.
Those who committed online fraud and gambling took advantage of regions within Myanmar where territorial instability made it difficult for authorities responsible for law enforcement and administration to fully exercise control. They carried out criminal activities to seek personal profit. The areas they targeted, including the Myawady-Maehtawthalay KK Park area, Shwekokko, and Chongkhaed region, are zones where KNLA and KNU terrorists, PDF terrorists, NCA-signatory Kayin armed groups, and border guard forces operate. The profit-seekers approached these armed groups using various methods and invested in infrastructure and other developments in these areas. Moreover, essential resources for habitation, such as water, electricity, communications, and other infrastructure, were obtained from a neighbouring country. Currently, the operations have been carried out in the KK Park area. Full security has been established in the Shwe kokko, Chongkhaed, and other areas with the involvement of security forces, and investigations and operations will continue. Any online fraud and gambling activities discovered will be effectively addressed and eradicated at the root.
The government is working in coordination with the international community to rigorously investigate, expose, and take decisive action against online fraud and gambling activities. As Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has also given guidance to combat criminal activities utilizing the Myanmar territory in committing crimes in neighbouring countries and internationally as a matter of national responsibility. During his recent visits to Kayin State and Mon State, meetings with relevant departments and local communities confirmed that efforts are being made to suppress online fraud and gambling as a national duty. It was clearly stated that such activities will continue to be decisively eradicated.
The government will continue to broadly suppress online fraud and gambling activities within the country. On 14 November 2025, at a joint meeting held in Kunming, China, attended by China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, participating countries, regional nations, and relevant regional organizations agreed to cooperate in effectively preventing and suppressing online fraud activities. The government also urges citizens to treat the reporting of information related to online fraud and gambling as a national responsibility and to actively provide such information to the relevant authorities to help jointly combat these crimes. — MNA/TTA
