By Min Khant
The online scam and online gambling operations did not originate in Myanmar, but are transnational crimes that avaricious people from other countries have established themselves on the borders of some Southeast Asian countries, and are operating illegally. The criminals leading these transnational crimes are foreign nationals, using other nationals to commit crimes. They are linked to major crimes such as human trafficking, human smuggling, forced labour, money laundering, and arms smuggling, threatening not only the region but also the entire world.
In Myanmar, online scam operations gangs have infiltrated the area where the government’s administrative machinery has not yet functioned properly, but some armed insurgent groups have operated. Then, the related crimes, including online fraud, have emerged. Hence, the government has not viewed this issue as a simple crime, but has decisively suppressed it. It has been evidenced by the number of cases arrested, the number of foreign nationals involved, the number of Myanmar citizens who illegally cooperated, and the amount of related equipment seized.
The government has taken the fight against online fraud and online gambling, which pose a threat to Myanmar and the world, as a national responsibility, and is vigorously and decisively suppressing it, while also reporting publicly on the actions taken.
This is done in accordance with the law to protect the future younger generation of the country from crime and to fully safeguard the lives and property of the people. It is also a matter of responsibility and accountability to cooperate with neighbouring countries to prevent the spread of cross-border crimes across international borders through Myanmar.
Like a military operation, the government is cracking down on the online fraud and online gambling being operated by online scam operation gangs, which have infiltrated the armed insurgents-controlled areas where the government’s administrative mechanism is not fully functioning.
In order to eradicate online fraud in border areas and prevent it from spreading domestically, the ‘The Central Supervisory Committee on Combatting Telecom Fraud and Online Gambling’ and the ‘Anti-Scam Centre (ASC)’ have been established. They are carrying out tasks such as drafting standard operating procedures for combatting and suppressing online fraud, handing over illegal foreign immigrants involved in the online fraud to their home countries, taking effective and harsh action against the main offenders at home and abroad, and cooperating with the international community.
We have seen and heard that the dollar-seeking pessimist media outlets opposing the government and turning a blind eye to these activities are spreading fake news and misinformation to tarnish the reputation of the government’s efforts to eradicate online scam operations, and to mislead the public and the international community.
Citing a 2024 report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the pessimist media coverage exaggerated the baseless allegations accusing that Myanmar is a major hub for online criminal gangs in order to mislead the public.
Although social media platforms have spread misinformation alleging that online money fraud criminal gangs are still operating in Myanmar, we would like to affirm that the government, in reality, is not turning a blind eye to these issues or is not involved in them from behind the scenes. Even the USIP organization has officially recognized that the Myanmar government has been eradicating the online scam operation gangs in northern Shan State since 2023.
In addition, the government has publicly announced in a press release that harsh action will be taken without prejudice to anyone if any government officials are found to be involved in bribery in such cases. Since these heinous acts, which have caused great suffering not only to Chinese people but also to Myanmar people, are transnational in nature, the government is making every effort to identify and take action against such criminals.
To eradicate such a serious problem of online scam operations, the government is not only working by itself but also collaborating with neighbouring countries. In particular, in close cooperation with China’s police force, the government successfully conducted a special operation called ‘Operation Storm’ during the period from late 2023 to 2024. It completely crushed hundreds of online scam operations in northern Shan State.
In order to effectively take legal action against the main offenders, Myanmar Police Force officials systematically handed them over to the Yunnan Provincial Police of the People’s Republic of China, and thousands of people were safely handed over to their home countries.
Not only that, a special task force was formed among Myanmar, China, and Thailand. Then, an effective action plan was also drawn up, leading to a joint trilateral military operation during the period from 1 April 2023 to 16 June 2023. In addition, Myanmar is continuously working with international law enforcement organizations to combat online fraud cases. Therefore, today, Myanmar is internationally recognized as a country that is standing at the forefront of the global fight against online fraud crimes, alongside its neighbouring countries.
This recognition is due to the decisive actions of the Anti-Scam Centre, which, as per the continuous guidance of the Head of State, has conducted raids, arrests, and technological control, with the cooperation between the Tatmadaw and the Myanmar Police Force, at locations of online scam operations across various towns and villages, including border areas, to combat online scam operations.
In terms of technological control, the government is taking measures such as blocking IP address related to online scam operations, freezing of thousands of bank accounts, anti-measures for cryptocurrency and advanced money laundering, raids based on location of unauthorized Internet Bandwidth, monitoring and seizing money flows through illegal money transfer (Hundi) networks, and blocking unauthorized satellite internet services used in border areas.
The Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force are rapidly carrying out a joint operation called Border Safety Operation against the online scam operation gangs that have been sheltered in the territory of the KNU terrorists. In particular, the buildings built to protect the online scam operations in the Myawady-Mae Htaw Tha Lay (KK Park) and Shwe Kokko areas were completely demolished with large machinery, and the photos and video files of the demolition have been broadcast internationally.
This is irrefutable evidence of the rapid demolition and removal records by the government through joint military operations. In the Myawady-Mae Htaw Tha Lay (KK Park) area, 635 illegal buildings used for criminal activities had been completely demolished, using state-of-the-art technology and legal authority.
Following such a decisive crackdown, foreign nationals exploited by online scam operation gangs are being systematically transferred to their home countries in accordance with existing laws and procedures, based on humanitarian considerations and friendly relations between the countries.
According to the testimonies of foreigners rescued in Kayin State, they were trafficked through routes such as entering Thailand by air and being transported from Bangkok to Mae Sot by vehicle/plane, illegally crossing the Thaungyin River through Mae Sot and being transported to companies in Myawady, Kayin State. They also arrived at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar with different visa types and were transported by vehicle to companies in Myawady, Kayin State. Although relevant embassies were asked for help by presenting their citizens as victims of human trafficking, some of them are not victims of human trafficking but rather people who come to work for their own benefit.
From 5 October 2023 to 24 March 2026, the government took action against online fraud and online gambling sites, including those who illegally entered Myanmar, and handed 71,975 foreigners involved in online scam operations over to their home countries in accordance with procedures.
Just as foreign nationals are being transferred to their home countries on humanitarian grounds, Myanmar citizens who are involved in online fraud and gambling are being effectively prosecuted in accordance with existing laws to eradicate the issue of online scam operations. The arrested local offenders are being prosecuted and taken harsh legal actions under relevant sections of the Electronic Transactions Law and the Gambling Act.
In fact, solid evidence clearly shows that those involved in the online scam operations manipulated by avaricious foreigners are ethnic armed terrorist organizations. In particular, the KNU, a terrorist organization, has provided a safe haven to illegal criminals in the areas they control, allowing them to operate online money fraud operations for their own benefit. The story of the online scam operations in Kayin State begins with the fact that the illegal land lease agreement was signed by the KNU Finance Committee in charge, Pado Kwe Htoo Win (current chairman), and the second witness, Pado Saw Roger Khin, personally signed the agreement, clearly proving their unjust actions for their own benefit.
According to field investigations, the real truth is that Myanmar did not create the online fraud operations itself, but rather foreign criminal gangs took advantage of the instability in the border region to establish a safe haven. The Myanmar government has not officially granted the members of the online scam operation gangs, nor has it accepted them as guests, and is demonstrating to the world that it has eradicated them through military operations like ‘Operation Storm’ and the ‘Border Safety Operation’. We would like to clearly inform the international community that Myanmar is not a centre for the online scam operations, as pessimists accuse, but rather “a fighter against the encroachments by evil doers”.
The Myanmar government’s decisive crackdown on online scam operations is an undeniable reality that no one can deny. The statistics of tens of thousands of arrests and the solid record of systematic transfers to neighbouring countries strongly demonstrate the strong endeavours of the government.
Accordingly, the government will continue to stand firmly at the forefront of the global war against cybercrime and make efforts to combat it as a national responsibility. We urge the international community to actively cooperate with Myanmar’s efforts to combat the online fraud operations, which is proven by facts and figures, rather than one-sided criticism of these achievements from a mistaken perspective.
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