(MENAFN) The Myanmar military claims to have captured one of Southeast Asia’s most notorious online scam compounds, KK Park, located near the Thai border town of Myawaddy. The complex, long associated with large-scale cyber fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking, has been a symbol of Myanmar’s growing criminal underworld over the past five years.

According to reports, thousands of people from around the world were tricked into traveling to KK Park with false job offers, only to be forced into running sophisticated scams that collectively stole billions of dollars from victims worldwide.

The junta, which has often faced accusations of profiting from such criminal enterprises, said it regained control of the area as part of a broader offensive aimed at reclaiming territory and preparing for elections expected to begin in December. Despite this, the military still lacks authority over significant portions of the country, which has been engulfed in civil conflict since the February 2021 coup. Opposition groups have dismissed the planned vote as illegitimate.

KK Park originated in early 2020 under a lease deal between the Karen National Union (KNU)—the ethnic armed group controlling much of the border region—and Huanya International, a little-known Hong Kong-listed company. Investigators have linked Huanya to Wan Kuok Koi, also known as “Broken Tooth,” a prominent Chinese triad leader with suspected investments in other border scam hubs.

Witnesses who escaped the compound described brutal conditions, including forced labor, physical abuse, and torture for those who failed to meet fraud targets. Many victims came from African nations and were held against their will.

The junta’s information ministry announced that its forces had “cleared” KK Park, freeing more than 2,000 individuals and seizing 30 Starlink satellite terminals—equipment reportedly used by the scammers to run online operations. The statement accused the “terrorist” KNU and allied People’s Defence Forces of illegally occupying the site.

Observers believe the military’s announcement was aimed primarily at appeasing China, which has repeatedly demanded stronger action to dismantle criminal networks run by Chinese nationals along the Thai-Myanmar border. Beijing has been cooperating with both the Thai and Myanmar governments to repatriate Chinese citizens involved in cross-border fraud.

Earlier this year, thousands of Chinese workers were repatriated after Thailand cut off power and fuel to certain compounds. However, KK Park is only one of more than 30 such complexes still active along the frontier, many operating under the protection of Karen militia groups allied with the junta.

These militias have been instrumental in helping the military push back the KNU and other resistance forces, allowing the junta to secure key routes, including the strategic road connecting Myawaddy with central Myanmar.

The military has also seized Lay Kay Kaw, a town built with Japanese aid in 2015 as a symbol of peace efforts in Karen State. Analysts say this represents a greater strategic loss for the KNU than the fall of KK Park, which mainly benefited pro-junta militias financially.

However, sources suggest that scam operations may still be continuing in parts of KK Park.

According to one regional security insider, the military likely controls only a section of the sprawling site. The source also indicated that Beijing has provided the Myanmar military with lists of Chinese suspects to detain and extradite, which may have influenced the timing of the raid.

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