The junta-allied Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, says it is cracking down on illegal scam centers along the Thai border.
It said it was tackling human trafficking, fraudulent activity, torture, child labor, drug smuggling and online scams while it transferred 61 victims of trafficking from seven countries to the Thai authorities on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Thailand cut electricity, internet services and fuel supplies to five areas, including territory controlled by the BGF, saying the call-center scam gangs threaten Thai national security.
The Thai authorities are targeting the border towns of Myawaddy and Payathonzu (Three Pagodas Pass) in Karen State and Tachileik in Shan State.
Since the 2021 coup, the scam centers have mushroomed, with many relocating to Myawaddy after being displaced by the anti-regime Operation 1027 in northern Shan State last year.
The Brotherhood Alliance offensive targeted scams in areas formerly controlled by junta-affiliated border forces in northern Shan State.
BGF leader Saw Chit Thu runs the Shwe Kokko “new city” project in a joint venture with Yatai International, which is owned by She Zhijiang, a Chinese national with Cambodian citizenship who is wanted by China.
In May 2024, the Justice for Myanmar activist group revealed the involvement of the BGF in online scams, illegal casinos and online gambling in Karen State.
Saw Chit Thu announced a crackdown on scam operations during a meeting with Chinese businesses in Myawaddy last month after the border town made headlines over the trafficking of a Chinese celebrity.
On January 22, the BGF pledged to combat crime under pressure from China and Thailand.
The BGF denied involvement in scam operations, claiming it “only leased land to businesses” and “never engaged in profit-sharing ventures”.
The junta-allied militia reiterated on Thursday that its international investment projects —housing, hotels and resorts — were approved by Myanmar’s State Investment Commission in 2018 to boost regional development.
“The BGF is only the landowner leasing the land and is not involved as a joint-venture investor,” the group said.
The militia said it had worked with the regime and international organizations to assist victims of trafficking. “Since 2023, we have helped repatriate over 2,000 victims,” it said.
It added that some businesses subleasing from investors in the projects were engaged in scams and human trafficking. The BGF pledged to work with the junta and international organizations to combat crime.
It said it worked for the development of Karen border areas, which have been affected by prolonged conflict. “We have consistently worked for the public benefit, providing roads, bridges, water, electricity, education, health care and economic development,” it added.
Following Thailand’s actions, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a signatory of the 2015 National Ceasefire Agreement based in Sone See Myaing in Karen State, said it would join international efforts to combat human trafficking and torture.
“We will implement projects to ensure people have food, shelter and job opportunities,” the DKBA said.
Following Thailand’s decision to cut fuel supplies, Myawaddy’s residents have been panic-buying any remaining fuel.
A Myawaddy resident said the fuel blockade primarily affects rural residents between Myawaddy and the scam compounds, Shwe Kokko and KK Park, who rely on Thai power.
“Cutting electricity, internet and fuel won’t scare them much,” she said, adding that the compounds have generators, solar panels and Starlink internet access.
She said her brother, who works in Shwe Kokko, reported that staff were being told to remain calm and continue operations.
The junta’s Global New Light of Myanmar, in a rare article on scam centers last month, said power and internet are provided by “other countries”, in reference to Thailand.
