The Government of Myanmar is actively carrying out measures to ensure that online fraud and online gambling operations cannot establish a base within the country. In implementing these anti-online scam operations, the government has been coordinating closely not only with domestic forces but also with the governments of neighbouring countries. Joint departmental teams across various regions and states are also conducting inspections and supervision to combat online scam activities and to prevent foreign nationals from illegally entering and residing in the country.
During such operations, a combined team carrying out security and inspection duties at the Mopepalin checkpoint in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, discovered a suspicious Chinese national at about 8 am on 9 March. The individual was seen walking along the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway near Mopepalin Village, travelling from Kyaikto towards Theinzayat. Upon being stopped and questioned, he was identified as Mr Jiang Xiaoqiang, son of Mr Jiang Xingfu, aged 45, from Zhejiang Province, China. It was found that he had illegally crossed the border into Myanmar via Thailand, and he was therefore arrested and detained.
According to the statement of the arrested Chinese national, while he was living in China, he had made contact with another Chinese national who was working in Thailand. In January 2024, he arrived at a location in Mae Sot, Thailand (still under verification), where he was employed in online scam and gambling operations for a monthly wage of 2,000 Thai baht. His belongings, including his mobile phone, passport and visa, were confiscated. During this period, he did not work at a fixed location but was moved between about five different sites. In March 2026, he crossed the Thaungyin River by motorboat from Mae Sot into Myawady, Myanmar, where he was kept in a building. He later managed to escape from that location and was subsequently arrested near the Mopepalin checkpoint.
The Chinese national who illegally crossed the border into Myanmar is currently being detained by the relevant authorities, and legal action is being taken against him under Section 3(1) of the Myanmar Immigration Act.
MNA/KNN
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