Statement on Suppression of Illegal Online Gambling in Border Areas

The crimes, including illegal online gambling, are on the rise currently in the Myawady-Shwe Kokko and KK Park areas, in Kayin State. The Shwe Kokko area was established as a project to run businesses aiming at regional development starting 2016. Later, because of the news coverage of media regarding the illegal businesses, the project was suspended. Law enforcement groups and administrators face difficulties and are struggling to control these areas completely as various armed organizations are based there. Therefore, the sites lack stability and those who seek their interests commit crimes including online gambling taking advantage of these situations.

Moreover, the power and internet connection, which are basic and essential for online scams in these areas, are not provided by Myanmar but by other countries. Foreign organizations make investments in these infrastructures, and most of the investments are made by these organizations.

According to the investigation regarding the news that the missing Chinese national Mr. Wang Xing (actor) at border areas of Thai-Myanmar (Mae Sot-Myawady):

  • Mr. Wang Xing was contacted by a Chinese man via WeChat Account of Thai media company GMM Grammy and persuaded to film in Thailand. On 3 January, he arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand by flight. Then, he was taken to Myawady-Shwe Kokko in Myanmar and sent to a building, and trained for computer typing.
  • Next, he found about 10 Chinese nationals there. He was sent to another building and forced to commit online fraud. That place is a place to run online gambling, and there are about 50 Chinese citizens.
  • On 7 January, the organizations from that area transferred him to Thailand, which he entered illegally, via No. 34 gate in Wangthakiyanthaik in Ward 7 of Thasonglut in Mae Sot, Tak Province.
  • Similarly, three Chinese men including Mr. Cheng Xiao Ning were found near Than Bridge in Chitkyiyay Street in Ward 5. According to the investigation, they illegally entered Myanmar from Thailand through various connections in 2022-2023 and operated online financial frauds. Later, they ran away from their sites as they did not receive any salaries.
  • Moreover, another two Chinese Mr. Yin Jie and Mr. Huang Xiang were also found near Nat Shin Naung traffic light in Bayintnaung Street, Ward 4 in Myawady. It was investigated that they entered Myanmar via Mae Sot in Thailand illegally in 2023.
  • Those who run these schemes are not Myanmar nationals, but they are foreigners who illegally entered Myanmar via illegal routes from neighbouring countries.
  • The Government of Myanmar uncovers the online scams and online gambling operated by some foreigners, who communicated with EAOs and those who saved their interests from EAOs’ areas by taking advantage of the current situation in border areas and also transfers them. However, the government investigated them under the law and transferred them to their respective countries on humanitarian grounds and bilateral relations although they illegally enter the country.

When the foreigners who enter the country illegally and commit online scams and online gambling were identified and investigated, they are found in border areas including Laukkai, Muse, Tachilek and Myawady and transferred to their countries. In this regard:

  • From 5 October 2023 to 13 January 2025, 53,388 Chinese were transferred to China, while 648 to Thailand, 20 to Korea, 22 to Laos, 1,149 to Vietnam, 19 to the Philippines, 142 to Malaysia, 21 to Chinese Taipei, two to Singapore, one to Poland, one to Spain, 13 to Russia, 38 to Indonesia, three to Uganda, two to Egypt, three to Cambodia, 96 to India, 13 to Morocco, 29 to Ethiopia, 26 to Nepal, three to Pakistan, two to North Ireland, one to Kazakhstan, two to Kenya, 60 to Sri Lanka, one to South Africa, one to Hong Kong of China, two to Sierra Leone, one to Ghana, one to Burundi and one to Turkmenistan, totalling 55,711 foreigners.

The Government conducts effective measures to investigate the arrested foreigners who entered illegally under the law, prosecute as quickly as possible and expel them to their relevant countries by organizing committees, and actively cooperates with relevant countries to transfer the foreigners who face hardships for various reasons and foreign national trafficking victims.

  • From 2022 to 19 January 2025, the government received letters via diplomatic ties, Interpol communication and police communication channels to investigate and search 4,176 people (3,415 men and 761 women) from Asia, Europe, China and South Africa including ASEAN member States.
  • Until 19 January 2025, a total of 1,292 people — 958 men and 334 women — were found, and 1,284 were transferred to their relevant countries following the procedures.
  • Among them, five from Vietnam, one from Pakistan and two from China, totalling eight people have remained to transfer. Investigations are continuously conducted for the remaining 2,884 people, and information is reported to relevant embassies and countries in time. Myanmar and China jointly conducted two operations to shut down online scam centres in Muse, Shan State (North), Myanmar.
  • According to the press release of the Information Team of the State Administration Council, “Chinese nationals do not deceive Myanmar nationals, and Myanmar nationals do not deceive Chinese. A group in exile who committed crimes deceived the two countries. Those who are guilty must be exposed and those who protect them must also be prosecuted.”

The online scammers and gamblers run their businesses by cooperating with some EAOs that are NCA signatories, armed organizations and their subordinates, exploiting the difficulties and challenges faced by the law enforcement groups and administrators in full control of these areas due to the lack of stability. Therefore, the Government investigates and takes effective actions in cooperation with international organizations. Local organizations and citizens are urged to report to the authorities regarding online scam information and participate in combating online gambling as a national task, it is reported.

Source: GNLM (21-1-2025)

  • The power and internet connection, which are basic and essential for online scams in these areas, are not provided by Myanmar but by other countries. Foreign organizations make investments in these infrastructures, and most of the investments are made by these organizations.
  • The Government of Myanmar uncovers the online scams and online gambling operated by some foreigners, who communicated with EAOs and those who saved their interests from EAOs’ areas by taking advantage of the current situation in border areas and also transfers them.
  • The Government investigated them under the law and transferred them to their respective countries on humanitarian grounds and bilateral relations.
  • According to the press release of the Information Team of the State Administration Council, “Chinese nationals do not deceive Myanmar nationals, and Myanmar nationals do not deceive Chinese. A group in exile who committed crimes deceived the two countries. Those who are guilty must be exposed and those who protect them must also be prosecuted.”
  • The online scammers and gamblers run their businesses by cooperating with some EAOs that are NCA signatories, armed organizations and their subordinates, exploiting the difficulties and challenges faced by the law enforcement groups and administrators in full control of these areas due to the lack of stability.
engdate: 
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 13:30
month: 
January, 2025