THE Myanmar government emphasizes the elimination process of online scams and gambling, which harm the international community as well as the entire world, as a national duty. To ensure that such activities gain no foothold within the country, the government is actively conducting suppression operations in coordination not only with domestic forces but also with the governments of neighbouring countries. On 22 February, the authorities arrested Chinese nationals engaged in online scam and gambling activities in Laikha Township, Shan State (South), together with equipment used in their operations.
While conducting aerial security operations, a combined team comprising security members discovered suspicious buildings about 3,000 metres west of Naung Lone Village in the Wan Pan village-tract of Laikha Township. At about 12 noon on 22 February, inspection operations were carried out, revealing that the site was being used for online scams and gambling activities. Twenty Chinese male nationals involved in such activities were arrested along with related equipment, including one 80-foot by 20-foot residential building, one 80-foot by 20-foot warehouse, one 50- foot by 20-foot dining hall, one 10-room toilet facility, two STARLINK satellite dishes, and other associated materials. Similarly, at about 6:15 pm on the same day, five further illegal Chinese nationals were found about 2,500 metres west of Tapmauk Village in Laikha Township. Upon inspection, they were identified as being involved in online scams and gambling activities and were subsequently arrested and detained.
According to the confession of those arrested, the Chinese citizens worked in China as construction workers, drivers, and in other occupations. Due to financial difficulties, they sought employment opportunities via WeChat, where they were persuaded with promises of well-paid jobs along the China-Myanmar border. Through contacts on WeChat, they entered Myanmar illegally in stages, some travelling from Xishuangbanna in China to Pangsang and then to Mongyai. In contrast, others travelled from Changchun in China to Mongla in Myanmar. Then, they were grouped with other illegal entrants and transported in stages by unknown individuals. Their mobile phones were kept, and their faces were covered with a cloth during transportation. Some previously worked in online scam operations near Mongyai before arriving in December 2025 at a location near Naung Lone Village in Laikha Township, Shan State (South), to continue online scam and gambling activities. At that location, about 60 people were engaged in online scam operations and were guarded by about seven members of a Shan armed group wearing green uniforms. On 22 February 2026, 60 people departed the site in two vehicles, accompanied by an armed group in another vehicle. During the process of relocating the groups to various locations, security forces carried out arrests at the respective sites.
The seized equipment related to telecom fraud and online gambling activities will be handled in accordance with established procedures, and the arrestees will be taken to effective legal action in line with the law. The government continues to actively cooperate in combating online scams and gambling, and also transfers the foreign nationals involved in these cases to their respective countries through legal inspection on humanitarian grounds and bilateral relationships. — MNA/KTZH
