Myanmar continues crackdown on telecom fraud and online gambling, demolishes illegal buildings and deports foreign offenders

COMBINED teams of security person­nel, administrative authorities, and local officials continue clearance operations against online fraud and online gambling hubs in Shwe Kokko and the Myawady– Maethawtalay (KK Park) area, where such activities remain heavily concentrat­ed. The teams systematically enter illegal buildings, seize items used in online fraud and gambling, and demolish or seal off the structures. To date, 293 illegal buildings have been demolished in KK Park, and 161 illegal buildings have been sealed off in Shwe Kokko.

 

In the Myawady–Maethawtalay (KK Park) Section (3) area, the teams yes­terday demolished five additional illegal buildings — two two-storey buildings, one three-storey building, and two four-storey buildings. Out of 425 buildings in Sec­tion (3), 145 have now been demolished. Across KK Park as a whole, there are 635 illegal buildings, of which 293 have been demolished.

 

In Shwe Kokko, inspections of build­ings used for online fraud began on 18 November, and 383 structures have been inspected so far. Of these, 169 buildings were identified as sites for online fraud and gambling, and 161 illegal buildings have been sealed to prevent further use. Today, the teams have also begun demol­ishing a 13-storey building.

 

According to inspection results in Shwe Kokko, authorities have identified 1,954 illegal foreign residents in the area. Seized items include 3,310 computers, 21,870 mobile phones, 102 Starlink units, 22 routers, and a large quantity of other equipment used in online fraud and gam­bling. These items are being systemati­cally destroyed, and clearance operations continue.

 

In addition, 360 foreign nationals involved in online gambling, fraud, and related crimes in the Myawady–Shwe Kokko area — comprising 293 Chinese, 56 Ethiopian, and 11 Pakistani nationals — were transferred yesterday to their respective countries via the Myanmar– Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 2, in line with humanitarian considerations and bilateral cooperation.

 

Between 30 January and 3 Decem­ber 2025, Myanmar authorities detained 12,945 illegal foreign entrants. Following screening, 10,961 individuals have been deported to their respective countries via Thailand under legal procedures. The remaining 1,984 individuals are now pre­pared for transfer and are under proper care and supervision.

 

The Government of Myanmar re­gards the eradication of online fraud and online gambling as a national respon­sibility. It will continue efforts to elimi­nate these criminal activities through cooperation with domestic agencies and coordination with neighbouring govern­ments. — MNA/KZL