Myanmar’s military is demolishing nearly 150 buildings at a notorious scam compound near Thailand, including a hospital and karaoke complex
YANGON: Myanmar’s military announced it is demolishing nearly 150 buildings in a crackdown on a notorious internet scam compound bordering Thailand.
The targeted structures include dormitories, a four-floor hospital, a two-storey karaoke complex, a gym, and a spa.
State newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that 101 buildings have already been demolished, with the remaining 47 currently being destroyed.
The announcement comes after last month’s raid on the infamous KK Park scam centre, where authorities discovered more than 2,000 scammers.
That operation sent 1,500 people fleeing across the border into Thailand.
Locals in Myanmar and Thailand have reported hearing intermittent explosions since the military raid began.
Experts suggest the junta raids are likely limited and intentionally publicised to alleviate international pressure.
China, a key military backer, has grown increasingly irate at scams targeting its citizens.
Cracking down too hard would erode profits enriching militias the junta relies on as allies in the ongoing civil war.
In February, a China-led pressure campaign saw 7,000 scam workers repatriated from Myanmar.
Thailand enacted a cross-border internet blockade to throttle the fraud factories.
The military launched initial raids on KK Park on October 19 after an AFP investigation revealed centres were expanding.
Starlink satellite internet receivers had been installed en masse to skirt the Thai web cut-off.
SpaceX subsequently cut signal to more than 2,500 terminals near suspected Myanmar scam centres. – AFP
