Myanmar nabs 1,200 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in online scam, illegal gambling

Myanmar’s powerful United Wa State Army (UWSA), one of the largest ethnic minority militias, recently apprehended and repatriated over 1,200 Chinese nationals accused of involvement in online scam operations. The arrests took place in eastern Shan state, within UWSA-controlled territory, during raids on Tuesday and Wednesday. The detainees were subsequently handed over to Chinese authorities at the border gate in Panghsang, also known as Pangkham city, situated on the border with China’s Yunnan province.

In recent times, cybercrime scams have gained prominence in Asia, with many of the individuals engaged in these scams falling prey to criminal gangs. These criminal organizations lure victims with fake job offers, subjecting them to conditions resembling virtual slavery. A report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed that hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia have been coerced into participating in various scam activities, including false romance schemes, fraudulent investment pitches, and illegal gambling.

The report identified several locations in Myanmar where these online scam centers are allegedly situated, including towns in Kayin state along the Thai border, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, and the city of Mong La in Shan state along the Chinese border. UWSA’s liaison officer, Nyi Rang, emphasized that such online fraud operations are not allowed within the UWSA-administered territory, and similar arrests have been made in the past.

The UWSA, with around 30,000 well-equipped soldiers and sophisticated weaponry, is the largest ethnic armed organization among Myanmar’s major minority groups. It maintains close relations with China, which provides military support. The UWSA governs its territory independently, free from interference by Myanmar’s central government, in two separate enclaves within Shan state.

China also maintains a strong relationship with Myanmar’s military rulers, who assumed power after ousting the elected government in February 2021. In July, Chinese Ambassador Chen Hai urged Myanmar’s Foreign Affairs Minister Than Swe to collaborate with neighboring countries in suppressing and eliminating online gambling and scam centers operating along the border areas, aiming to rescue Chinese citizens trapped in such schemes.

Original Story by South China Morning Post