Bangkok. Myanmar’s military has shut down a large-scale online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining more than 2,000 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, state media reported Monday.

Myanmar has gained notoriety as a hub for cyber scam syndicates that swindle victims around the world through romance schemes and fake investment pitches. These criminal operations are known for luring foreign workers with false job offers before trapping them in compounds and forcing them to commit online fraud.

The raids came amid heightened international scrutiny of cybercrime in Southeast Asia. Last week, the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on the organizers of a major Cambodian scam network, while its alleged ringleader was indicted by a federal court in New York.

According to Myanma Alinn newspaper, the military raided KK Park, a well-documented cybercrime center, as part of operations launched in early September to curb online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime. The outlet published photos showing seized Starlink terminals and troops conducting the raid, though it was unclear when the images were taken.

KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a key trading town along the Thai border in Myanmar’s Kayin State. The area is only partially controlled by the military junta and is also influenced by ethnic minority militias.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government, accused top leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic armed group opposing military rule, of involvement in the scam operations at KK Park. The claim echoes earlier allegations that a company linked to the Karen group facilitated land leases for the compound. The KNU, part of the broader armed resistance against the junta, has denied any connection to the cybercrime activities.

Myanma Alinn reported that the army found more than 260 unregistered buildings and confiscated various equipment, including 30 Starlink satellite terminals. A total of 2,198 individuals were detained, though their nationalities were not disclosed.

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides satellite internet access but does not hold an operating license in Myanmar. Hundreds of terminals are believed to have been smuggled into the country. The company could not be immediately reached for comment Monday. Its policy prohibits “defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive” use of its services.

Myanmar has seen several crackdowns on cyber scam operations over the past two years. In February, under pressure from China, Myanmar and Thailand jointly launched an operation that freed thousands of trafficked workers from scam compounds, with cooperation from some of the ethnic armed groups controlling border areas.

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