Chinese casino owners in a Myanmar border town have been given a deadline of February 28 to leave, following a crackdown on online fraud and related activities.
Chinese citizens who own casinos and other businesses in Myanmar border town Phaya Thonezu have until February 28 to wind down their operations.
Armed group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) issued this memorandum to Chinese citizens in a statement. This move follows Thailand's recent decision to cut off electricity, fuel, and internet access to five Myanmar border regions, including Phaya Thonezu, in a bid to dismantle online fraud networks.
The DKBA, in a statement reported by Eleven Media Group, cited the need to protect local residents and prevent the proliferation of online scam operations within the township, which borders Thailand's Kanchanaburi province. The group also announced a ban on further entry of Chinese nationals into Phaya Thonezu.
This action comes shortly after the DKBA ordered the closure of all its own game shops and "Our Day" businesses in and around Myawaddy, another town in Kayin State. That directive, issued after an emergency meeting on January 31, aimed to ensure the well-being of DKBA members and their families.
Phaya Thonezu, located in Kayin State along the Thai frontier, has become a hub for casino activity, attracting gamblers from neighboring countries where gambling is restricted. These casinos, while generating revenue, have also been linked to illicit activities, including money laundering and, increasingly, online fraud. The region's porous borders and complex governance structures have created an environment ripe for exploitation by criminal syndicates involved in cyber scams, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes. The crackdown by Thai authorities and the DKBA's subsequent order signal a growing regional effort to combat these criminal enterprises.
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