Overview
- State media said troops swept the Shwe Kokko complex near the Thai border, detaining 346 foreign nationals and seizing nearly 10,000 mobile phones used in alleged online gambling and fraud.
- Broader operations around Myawaddy this week have reportedly demolished more than 180 buildings and led to over 1,000 foreign detentions, with 2,653 computers and 21,750 phones confiscated.
- Officials cast blame on armed opposition groups, while photos and statements show a local militia assisting the raids despite longstanding allegations it previously shielded operators.
- The junta-linked narrative ties Shwe Kokko to the Yatai venture associated with Chinese-Cambodian figure She Zhijiang, who was arrested in Thailand in 2022 and was extradited to China last week.
- The campaign follows October’s operation at KK Park and comes as UN agencies peg regional scam profits near $37–$40 billion and critics question whether lower-level workers are being targeted while masterminds remain active.