Credited from: ALJAZEERA
Myanmar's military conducted a significant operation against a major online scam center, known as KK Park, located near the border with Thailand, leading to the arrest of over 2,000 individuals. The raid resulted in the seizure of **30 Starlink satellite terminals**, used for internet connectivity within the compound. This operation is part of the military's ongoing struggle against the flourishing cybersecurity challenges in the region, as Myanmar has become a well-known hub for such illegal activities, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.
According to reports, the military's actions were driven by a need to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime that often exploit vulnerable individuals. The centers commonly recruit foreign workers under **false pretenses**, promising legitimate employment but instead forcing them into criminal activities. The situation was exacerbated by international concerns following scams that gained global attention, especially after the U.S. and the U.K. imposed sanctions on major actors in similar operations, as highlighted by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.
KK Park operates on the **outskirts of Myawaddy**, a regional trading town, and consists of over **250 buildings** involved in various forms of scams, including money laundering and online romance schemes. The compound has become infamous in the region for its association with criminal syndicates, and the area has been subject to increased **military oversight** due to ongoing civil strife, particularly clashes involving the Karen National Union and military forces, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.
Military spokesperson Major-General Zaw Min Tun has implicated the **Karen National Union** in the scam operations, asserting that they collaborated or enabled the activities at KK Park. Despite these allegations, the Karen leadership has firmly denied any involvement with the cybercrime operations. Local investigations have identified that almost **2,198 individuals** were detained, including significant numbers of both men and women, with reports indicating many were working under coercive conditions typical of human trafficking, as stated by Channel News Asia, India Times, and Al Jazeera.