Chinese nationals arrested after they fled Myanmar’s KK Park scam centre

Hundreds of Chinese nationals working in scam call centres in Myanmar’s KK Park, the notorious centre of transnational scam operations near Myawaddy in Kayin state, have fled a crackdown by Burmese troops and Karen forces by swimming across the Moei River into Mae Sot district of Thailand’s Tak province.

According to Thai security forces, dozens of alleged Chinese scammers managed to escape to the Thai side of the river in Ban Mae Ku Kai Tha Sung in Mae Sot district and were taken into custody for questioning.

Some are reported to have drowned in the river’s strong currents, while quite a few fled KK Park to other areas of Myanmar, instead of heading for Thailand, for fear that they may be deported to China where they may face harsh penalties.

Thai border forces have been strengthened to deal with escapes by Chinese scammers, in anticipation that their numbers are likely to increase as the crackdown on KK Park intensifies.

A network of non-governmental organisations, dedicated to helping human trafficking victims, says that a number of foreigners, forced to work in call centres in KK Park, have been freed during the crackdown.