Myanmar Junta Raids Notorious Scam Compound, Seizes 30 Starlink Devices

Myanmar’s military junta announced on Monday that it had raided one of the country’s most infamous internet scam compounds near the Thai border, seizing 30 Starlink satellite internet receivers and related equipment. The move follows an AFP investigation exposing the surging use of Starlink technology in Southeast Asia’s billion-dollar cyber fraud industry.

The compound, known as KK Park, has been one of several hubs where trafficked labourers are forced to conduct online scams targeting foreigners through romance cons, investment frauds, and business impersonation schemes. These so-called “cyber slave” operations have thrived in Myanmar’s lawless border regions, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to state-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar, junta forces launched an operation at KK Park, located along the Myanmar–Thailand border.

The report stated that troops “conducted operations in KK Park near the Myanmar–Thai border and seized 30 sets of Starlink receivers and accessories.”

During the raid, around 200 buildings were occupied, and authorities discovered nearly 2,200 workers operating within the complex.

Although Starlink — owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX — is not legally authorised to operate in Myanmar, its devices have rapidly become central to the region’s underground digital economy.

Before the February 2024 crackdown, Starlink’s traffic in Myanmar was negligible. However, according to the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), it topped the country’s internet traffic charts daily between 3 July and 1 October, underscoring its rising use among illicit networks.

Despite requests for clarification, Starlink has not responded to AFP’s inquiries.

Satellite imagery examined by AFP also indicates rapid new construction at several scam centre locations, including new office and dormitory blocks in at least 27 sites along the Moei River, which separates Myanmar and Thailand.

Authorities across Southeast Asia — particularly in Thailand, China, and Myanmar — have intensified efforts to dismantle scam compounds since early 2024. A joint crackdown earlier this year reportedly freed around 7,000 workers, many of whom were trafficked and forced into online crime.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that Southeast Asian scam operations defrauded victims of approximately USD 37 billion in 2023, underscoring the global scale of the problem.

While Myanmar has become the epicentre of Southeast Asia’s cyber-fraud industry — fuelled by civil conflict and weak law enforcement — similar operations have also spread to Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines.

On the same day as Myanmar’s announcement, South Korean police confirmed they had issued arrest warrants for 45 suspects deported from Cambodia over alleged involvement in similar scam centres.

The developments highlight a growing transnational criminal network powered by emerging technologies and unregulated internet access — a challenge that continues to outpace law enforcement efforts across the region.