Rangoon, April 4, 2024 – A joint operation by Myanmar and Chinese police on the border of the two countries has resulted in the arrest of over 800 people suspected of online fraud. According to UN data, these online scams, including cryptocurrency and gambling schemes, net criminal organizations a staggering 100 billion euros annually.
The operation also targeted Chinese nationals. Of the total number arrested, approximately 350 were Chinese, who were subsequently deported back to China. The Myanmar government has not yet commented on the incident. China, a major arms supplier to Myanmar, has long been pressuring the government there to crack down on online fraud more effectively. Last year, Myanmar had to deport over 40,000 foreigners in connection with these scams, highlighting the massive scale of the problem.
Additional details:
- The operation took place in the border town of Muse, in Myanmar’s Shan State.
- It involved hundreds of police officers from both countries.
- The suspects are accused of a variety of online scams, including investment fraud, romance scams, and identity theft.
- They are believed to be part of a larger network of criminals operating in both Myanmar and China.
- The arrests are a significant blow to the online fraud industry, but experts say that more needs to be done to address the problem.
