Myanmar’s Shwe Kokko scam city raided, hundreds detained

Panic gripped Myanmar’s notorious Shwe Kokko scam city in the Myawaddy border town late last night and early this morning as Myanmar government forces and their Karen allies, the Border Guard Force (BGF), raided the city in a renewed attempt to crack down on numerous online scam centres.

It was reported that hundreds of alleged scammers, of multiple nationalities but mostly Chinese, have been rounded up and detained in their apartments, which are being guarded by BGF and government troops.

Many alleged scammers, with their luggage, are reported to have tried to escape into Maer Ramat and Mae Sot districts of Thailand’s Tak province, but the border has been sealed by the BGF and troops.

One of the major targets in the raid was the Chai Fu Kwang Chai Hotel, owned by Ya Tai International Holding Group, where many alleged scammers were found.

The commotion ended before dawn, when the Myanmar military and BGF forces had control of Shwe Kokko.

Last week, the same forces demolished over 100 buildings in KK Park, another major scam hub in Myawaddy town, driving more than 1,500 suspected

scammers, mostly Chinese and Indians, to escape to into Mae Sot district.

Two Indian army transport planes are due to land at Mae Sot airport today to repatriate 270 Indian nationals.