Myawaddy: The Myanmar military has announced the capture of KK Park, a well-known scam compound located on the border with Thailand, as it seeks to reclaim key territories lost during the ongoing civil war. KK Park has gained notoriety over the past five years for its involvement in online fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking.
According to BBC, the compound, south of the border town of Myawaddy, has been a hotspot for illegal activities, luring thousands with promises of lucrative jobs, only to force them into running scams that have swindled billions globally. The establishment of KK Park began in early 2020 with a lease agreement to build an industrial park, in collaboration between the Karen National Union (KNU) and a Hong Kong-listed company, Huanya International. Researchers have identified potential links between Huanya and Chinese underworld figure Wan Kuok Koi, also known as Broken Tooth.
The Myanmar military's information ministry released a statement claiming to have "cleared" the compound, liberating over 2,000 workers and seizing 30 of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite terminals used for online activities. The statement accused the "terrorist" KNU and volunteer defense forces, which have opposed the junta since the coup, of occupying the area illegally.
This move is seen as the junta's response to pressure from China, its main patron, to curb illegal operations run by Chinese syndicates along the border. Earlier this year, thousands of Chinese workers were repatriated as Thailand cut off power and fuel supplies to these compounds.
Despite the raid on KK Park, it is only one of at least 30 similar operations on the border, most of which continue under the protection of pro-junta militia groups. These groups have been instrumental in the military's efforts to reclaim territories from the KNU and other resistance groups.
The military now controls a significant portion of the road linking Myawaddy to the rest of Myanmar, achieving a strategic goal ahead of the planned elections in December. The capture of Lay Kay Kaw, a town established with Japanese funding in 2015, marks a more significant setback for the KNU than KK Park's takeover, as it symbolized hopes for lasting peace in Karen State.
A source informed the BBC that scam activities persist in KK Park, suggesting that the military may have only taken partial control of the complex. The source also speculates that Beijing is providing the Myanmar military with lists of Chinese nationals to be extradited, which may have prompted the attack on KK Park.