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Myanmar's military intensifies its crackdown on online scam centers, a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise operating along its borders. Thousands of foreigners detained, buildings demolished, and equipment seized in major raids. #Myanmar #OnlineScams #CyberFraud #HumanTrafficking #GlobalCrime
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Myanmar's military government has
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intensified its crackdown on online scam
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centers. The crackdown takes place as
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the multi-billion dollar criminal
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enterprise continues to operate with
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impunity along the country's borders.
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Reportedly,
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[Music]
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security forces moving through massive
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compounds, detaining workers, and even
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demolishing buildings set to house cyber
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fraud operations. Authorities saying
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they are responding to months of
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international pressure after reports
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that Myanmar had become a global hub for
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sophisticated online scams. Many of them
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built around romance cons, fake
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investment schemes and other frauds that
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reportedly generate nearly $40 billion a
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year
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according to the United Nations
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estimation. In fact, the most recent
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raid started on the 18th of November.
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This was just outside the border town of
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Meawadi. In six days, security forces
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detained more than 1,700 foreigners.
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In the earlier operations, which include
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a high-profile raid in October, bringing
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the total number of detained foreign
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nationals this year itself to more than
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12,000, nearly 10,000 of them have
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already been deported through Thailand.
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Now, many of the detained workers are
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from African nations reportedly and
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other parts of Asia. They were lured
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into the region by false job offers and
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then forced to work in scam compounds
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where they were not allowed to leave.
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Authorities say they have seized
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thousands of computers, mobile phones
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along with hundreds of satellite devices
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and other equipment used to drive
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massive online fraud and illegal
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gambling networks. Buildings reduced to
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rubble. Electronics crushed under stream
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rollers. Lines of detainees being
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processed by the security forces. The
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military government claims its crackdown
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started in early September, but the
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critics argue that many of the kingpins
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behind these operations have shifted
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elsewhere.
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The region is a patchwork of militias.
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It includes armed karan groups with
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complex relationships with the army. The
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border guard force, which has been
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accused in the past of protecting scam
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operators, now claims credit for helping
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with the raids. Meanwhile, the Karan
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National Union, which is a key force in
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the wider resistance to military rule,
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denies government allegations that it
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has any role in the scam centers or
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their real estate deals.
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For now, Myanmar's military leaders are
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broadcasting this crackdown to show the
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world that they are acting against the
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global criminal trade. But with regional
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power struggles laced with complicated
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alliances and years of alleged official
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complicity, questions about how far this
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crackdown will really go and whether the
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networks behind the billions in fraud
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can truly be dismantled continue to hang
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in the air. To stay up to speed with the
3:12
latest news, download the VON app and
3:14
subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#Public Safety
#Crime & Justice
#World News