Joint Myanmar-China Police Operation Targets Cross-Border Scammers
More than 800 individuals suspected of involvement in cross-border scams were apprehended in a collaborative effort between Myanmar and China, as confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Yangon.
Scam Compounds in Myanmar
Scam operations have proliferated in Myanmar, with Chinese and other foreign nationals reportedly engaging in fraudulent activities targeting their fellow countrymen, a lucrative industry estimated to be worth billions.
Coordinated Crackdown
Beijing, a key ally and arms provider to Myanmar’s ruling junta, has consistently urged the military to take action against such illicit operations. Chinese law enforcement assisted their Myanmar counterparts in conducting raids in the vicinity of Muse city, a significant trading center in northern Shan state.
Arrests and Seizures
Myanmar authorities detained 807 individuals involved in cross-border crimes, confiscating computers, mobile phones, and fraudulent materials during the operations. Of those arrested, 352 were Chinese nationals who were repatriated to China, while the rest were Myanmar citizens.
UN Concerns and Previous Actions
Last year, the United Nations human rights office reported that over 120,000 individuals were held in scam facilities in Myanmar, particularly in Laukkai town in northeastern Shan state. Following its capture by an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups, the alliance vowed to eradicate these illicit operations. Additionally, more than 40,000 individuals suspected of participating in cyber scams in Myanmar were handed over to China in the previous year, as per Chinese state media.
