MYAWADDY – Border Guard Force (BGF) and Karen Democratic Buddhist Army (DKBA) troops have detained over 7,000 foreign nationals from 30 countries during a month-long crackdown on call center operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
The operation targeted various locations including KK Park and Shwe Kokko, across from Thailand’s Mae Sot district.
According to Lt. Col. Naing Maung Zaw, BGF spokesperson, the Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone under the supervision of BGF leader Col. Saw Chit Thu, now claims to be nearly 100% free of call scam operations. The force intends to transform the area into a commercial and tourism hub for Karen State, showcasing the only water park and artificial sea in Myawaddy.
The BGF confirms that only six Chinese nationals in command in the area have been apprehended, not any major kingpin. Over 2,000 foreigners have already been repatriated, but thousands more remain in custody awaiting coordination with their home countries.
The BGF is shouldering a monthly cost of 3 million baht (approximately $89,000) to care for the detainees and is uncertain how long they can sustain this burden. If this situation continues, addressing transnational crime along the border will become increasingly complex.
“I would like to urge the Thai government to work continuously and seriously elevate efforts to suppress criminal activities, completely eradicating them from Thailand. The fracturing of these criminal hubs from Myanmar could lead to the movement of criminal groups into Thailand, as they are already present and have established businesses in Thailand, said Professor Dr. Pinkaew Laungaramsri from Chiang Mai University’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Despite measures from Thailand cutting off electricity, internet, and oil exports for over a month, life in Shwe Kokko continues amid towering buildings and numerous Chinese-funded businesses. The BGF insists it will proceed with developing Shwe Kokko into a commercial and tourism center through Yatai, a Chinese investment group that has leased the entire area, while enforcing stricter regulations against illegal activities.
Development plans include hotels, restaurants, residential areas, and large-scale agricultural businesses including crop cultivation and large chicken farms. The Yatai Freedom Water Park, featuring the only artificial sea in Myawaddy, opened a year ago but is currently closed due to the Thai restrictions. (TNA)
