In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), one of Myanmar’s largest and most influential ethnic minority militias, has arrested and repatriated over 1,200 Chinese nationals who were allegedly involved in criminal online scam operations. The arrests took place in territory controlled by the UWSA in eastern Shan state during raids conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Nyi Rang, a liaison officer from the UWSA, confirmed the arrests and stated that the individuals were handed over to Chinese police at the border gate in Panghsang, also known as Pangkham city, which serves as the capital of the Wa-administered territory on the border with China’s Yunnan province.
Cybercrime scams have become a major issue in Asia, primarily because many of the workers who carry out these scams are themselves victims of criminal gangs. These gangs lure vulnerable individuals with fake job offers and then subject them to virtual slavery conditions. According to a report by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia have been forced into participating in scam operations, including false romance ploys, bogus investment pitches, and illegal gambling schemes.
The report further highlighted that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and approximately 100,000 people in Cambodia may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams. In Myanmar, the report indicated that online scam centers are allegedly located in towns in southeastern Kayin state along the Thai border, Kokang Self-Administered Zone, and the Wa-administered city of Mong La in Shan state on the Chinese border.
Nyi Rang emphasized that the UWSA does not permit online fraud operations within the territory controlled by them, and similar arrests have been made in the past. The UWSA’s online media outlet, WSTV, confirmed the arrests on its Facebook account, stating that a total of 1,207 Chinese nationals involved in online fraud were handed over to the Chinese police.
The UWSA is the largest and most powerful ethnic armed organization among the major ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. With an army of approximately 30,000 well-equipped soldiers, including heavy artillery and helicopters from China, the UWSA maintains close relations with its neighboring country. It administers its territory without interference from Myanmar’s central government in two separate enclaves in northeastern and southern parts of Shan state, bordering China and Thailand, respectively.
China also has good relations with Myanmar’s military rulers, who took power after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. In July, Chinese Ambassador Chen Hai urged Myanmar’s Foreign Affairs Minister Than Swe to collaborate with neighboring countries to suppress and eradicate online gambling and scam centers operating in the border areas of Myanmar, as well as rescue trapped Chinese citizens. Chen Hai made multiple visits to Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, to discuss China-Myanmar border security matters.
The U.N. report also highlighted the presence of online fraud gangs in southeastern Kayin state on the Thai border. Shwe Kokko, a small town in the northern part of Kayin state’s Myawaddy township, draws notoriety for its casino complexes, allegedly hosting major organized crime operations such as online scamming, gambling, and human trafficking. These complexes were developed by Chinese investors in collaboration with the local Border Guard Forces, which are militias affiliated with Myanmar’s army.
The crackdown by the UWSA on Chinese nationals involved in online scams reflects escalating concerns regarding cybercrime in the region. With the UWSA’s powerful presence and close ties with China, this operation serves as a significant step towards curbing criminal activities and protecting vulnerable individuals who often fall prey to online scam operations. The collaboration between Myanmar and China in tackling cybercrime will likely strengthen as both countries acknowledge the need for joint efforts in addressing this issue that poses a threat to their citizens’ well-being and security.