Chaos at the border: Myanmar attacks fraud center in KK Park!

Chaos at the border: Myanmar attacks fraud center in KK Park!

The situation on the Thai-Myanmar border is getting worse. Since October 22, 2025, the Myanmar Army has been conducting a comprehensive operation against the notorious fraud institution “KK Park”. This illegal hub is known for its scams ranging from online romance to investment scams. According to latest reports, over 2,000 people, including many foreigners, had already been arrested when the crackdown was launched. BBC Thai reports frightening sightings: On October 24, two Chinese people drowned in the Mae Nam Moe River while trying to escape to Thailand.

The "KK Park", located in Myawaddy township in Kayin State and directly opposite Mae Sot, is under the influence of the Karen National Union (KNU), which is fighting against the military government of Myanmar. The conditions there are characterized by a constant civil war that has been raging since the military coup in 2021. Various armed groups and the military face each other. Al Jazeera reports that the current fighting in this region also ultimately encourages the illegal activities of criminals operating in the border region.

Human trafficking and illegal activities

Operations at KK Park spanned more than 250 buildings, where it is estimated that approximately 100,000 people are being held captive in various illegal activities. These people are often lured into fraud centers under the pretext of attractive job offers, only to be forced into exploitation. Many of these victims, including women and children, suffer in extreme conditions without access to food or clean water. It is a brutal and well-organized business based on deception and coercion, as a recent UN report describes. ORF emphasizes that reports of torture and sexual violence are everyday life in these centers.

Thai security forces have introduced strict control at the border and in Mae Sot in recent days. The data of those who came to Thailand in the last three days from 26 nationalities, including India, Vietnam and Ethiopia, should be systematically recorded in order to counteract human trafficking. An international criminal network operates the fraud centers and generates profits in the high double-digit million range.

Positive developments?

Interestingly, Al Jazeera reported that 30 Starlink satellites were seized during the raid. This technology is often used to coordinate criminal activities in fraud centers. Hopes remain that increased international attention and pressure on Myanmar will reduce illegal practices. However, the situation remains tense and the protagonists in the background continue to act.

The KNU units and other armed groups offer resistance, but face military superiority. Meanwhile, many desperate people who have fled from various countries are trying to get to Thailand and hope for a better future. But the reality of human trafficking and exploitation makes it difficult to maintain that hope.