Members of Myanmar's Tatmadaw military. Photo Credit: Mehr News Agency
October 21, 2025
By RFA
Myanmar’s junta said on Monday it raided one of the country’s most notorious cyberscam centers and seized Starlink satellite internet devices.
Myanmar government media The Global New Light of Myanmar said the military “conducted operations in KK Park near Myanmar-Thai border” and had “seized 30 sets of Starlink receivers and accessories,” according to the AFP news agency.
AFP said that number is only a fraction of the Starlink devices they identified using satellite imagery and drone photography. On the roof of one building alone in KK Park, images showed nearly 80 of the internet dishes.
The Global New Light of Myanmar also said junta troops had occupied around 200 buildings and found nearly 2,200 workers at the site, while 15 “Chinese scammers” had been arrested for involvement in “online gambling, online fraud and other criminal activities” around KK Park.
A crackdown by Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities starting in February saw thousands of suspected scammers repatriated, with experts saying some in the scam industry participate willingly while others are forced to by organized criminal groups.
The U.S. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee told the AFP news agency they have begun an investigation into Starlink’s involvement with the centers. While it can call owner Elon Musk to a hearing, it cannot compel him to testify.
Starlink parent company SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Online scamming centers have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, especially in some of the more lawless parts of Myanmar, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.
The centers are often run by Chinese gangs and are notorious for luring unsuspecting people into jobs that entail going online to contact and defraud people, many in China.
Chinese authorities are keen to get the rackets based over the border in Myanmar shut down, and so action against them has become a key factor for rival factions in Myanmar, from the junta to its insurgent enemies and other militias, as they vie for China’s favor.
By RFA
Myanmar’s junta said on Monday it raided one of the country’s most notorious cyberscam centers and seized Starlink satellite internet devices.
Myanmar government media The Global New Light of Myanmar said the military “conducted operations in KK Park near Myanmar-Thai border” and had “seized 30 sets of Starlink receivers and accessories,” according to the AFP news agency.
AFP said that number is only a fraction of the Starlink devices they identified using satellite imagery and drone photography. On the roof of one building alone in KK Park, images showed nearly 80 of the internet dishes.
The Global New Light of Myanmar also said junta troops had occupied around 200 buildings and found nearly 2,200 workers at the site, while 15 “Chinese scammers” had been arrested for involvement in “online gambling, online fraud and other criminal activities” around KK Park.
A crackdown by Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities starting in February saw thousands of suspected scammers repatriated, with experts saying some in the scam industry participate willingly while others are forced to by organized criminal groups.
The U.S. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee told the AFP news agency they have begun an investigation into Starlink’s involvement with the centers. While it can call owner Elon Musk to a hearing, it cannot compel him to testify.
Starlink parent company SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Online scamming centers have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, especially in some of the more lawless parts of Myanmar, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.
The centers are often run by Chinese gangs and are notorious for luring unsuspecting people into jobs that entail going online to contact and defraud people, many in China.
Chinese authorities are keen to get the rackets based over the border in Myanmar shut down, and so action against them has become a key factor for rival factions in Myanmar, from the junta to its insurgent enemies and other militias, as they vie for China’s favor.
RFA
Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press. Content used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036
Myanmar: Notorious cyberscam center KK Park raided by army
On Monday, the army raided KK Park which is a well-documented cybercrime center, according to report in the Myanma Alinn newspaper.
The move came as part of operations that begun in early September to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime.
Unlicensed Starlink terminals siezed
KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border with Thailand in Myanmar's Kayin state.
The area is only loosely under the control of Myanmar's junta but also falls under the influence of ethnic minority militias.
Further details of the report said the army ascertained that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, and equipment including 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals seized.
Starlink is part of Elon Musk's SpaceX company and the terminals link to its satellites, but the company is not licensed for operations in Myanmar. Hundreds of terminals are said to have been smuggled into the southeast Asian nation in recent years.
Additionally, 2,198 individuals were also detained during the raid at KK Park, although their nationalities were not known.
Army accuses armed ethnic organization of running cybercrime center
Major General Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the military government, claimed in a statement that the top leaders of the Karen National Union were involved in the scam projects at KK Park.
Karen are an armed ethnic organization opposed to army rule and are part of the larger armed resistance movement in Myanmar's civil war.
They have denied any involvement in the scams. The claims against them are based on the fact that the group allegedly owns and leases the land KK Park sits on.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
Kalika Mehta Sports reporterJourno_K
DW, AP, local media
1 hour ago1 hour ago
Unlicensed Starlink terminals were siezed and more than 2,000 people detained following the raid at KK Park.
Unlicensed Starlink terminals were siezed and more than 2,000 people detained following the raid at KK Park.
The military confiscated Starlink tech from the facilityImage: The Myanmar Military True News Information Team/AP/dpa/picture alliance
Myanmar's military have closed down an online scamming operation, detaining more than 2000 people, according to state media on Monday.
During the raid, which took place near the border with Thailand, dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals were also seized.
Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyberscam operations which have been responsible for taking money from people all over the world through scams which usually involve gaining victims' confidence online with romantic ploys or other ruses.
Cyberscam centers on the rise
In recent years, cyberscam centers have become infamous for recruiting workers from other countries under false pretenses. The individuals are promised legitimate jobs and then held captive and forced to carry out criminal activities.
During the raid, which took place near the border with Thailand, dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals were also seized.
Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyberscam operations which have been responsible for taking money from people all over the world through scams which usually involve gaining victims' confidence online with romantic ploys or other ruses.
Cyberscam centers on the rise
In recent years, cyberscam centers have become infamous for recruiting workers from other countries under false pretenses. The individuals are promised legitimate jobs and then held captive and forced to carry out criminal activities.
Freed captives describe scam operations in Myanmar 03:28
On Monday, the army raided KK Park which is a well-documented cybercrime center, according to report in the Myanma Alinn newspaper.
The move came as part of operations that begun in early September to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime.
Unlicensed Starlink terminals siezed
KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border with Thailand in Myanmar's Kayin state.
The area is only loosely under the control of Myanmar's junta but also falls under the influence of ethnic minority militias.
Further details of the report said the army ascertained that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, and equipment including 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals seized.
Starlink is part of Elon Musk's SpaceX company and the terminals link to its satellites, but the company is not licensed for operations in Myanmar. Hundreds of terminals are said to have been smuggled into the southeast Asian nation in recent years.
Additionally, 2,198 individuals were also detained during the raid at KK Park, although their nationalities were not known.
Myanmar's army has accused an armed ethnic organization of running scam centers
Image: The Myanmar Military True News Information Team/AP/dpa/picture alliance
Army accuses armed ethnic organization of running cybercrime center
Major General Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the military government, claimed in a statement that the top leaders of the Karen National Union were involved in the scam projects at KK Park.
Karen are an armed ethnic organization opposed to army rule and are part of the larger armed resistance movement in Myanmar's civil war.
They have denied any involvement in the scams. The claims against them are based on the fact that the group allegedly owns and leases the land KK Park sits on.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
Kalika Mehta Sports reporterJourno_K
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