Myanmar Military Shuts Down Major Cybercrime Center and Detains Over 2,000 People

According to Myanma Alinn, the Myanmar military has shut down KK Park, a major online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining 2,198 people and seizing 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals as part of operations that began in early September to curb online fraud, illegal gambling and cross-border cybercrime. The raid was carried out on the outskirts of Myawaddy in Kayin state, an area loosely controlled by the military government and influenced by ethnic militias. Maj. Gen.

Zaw Min Tun, the military government’s spokesperson, claimed in a Monday night statement that the top leaders of the Karen National Union were involved in the scam projects at KK Park, a claim that the Karen deny. Myanma Alinn reported that more than 260 buildings were unregistered and that 2,198 individuals were detained, with Starlink terminals linking to satellites despite the company not having licensed operations in Myanmar. The report notes that Starlink equipment was displayed in photos from the raid, though the timing of those photographs was unclear.