In a collaborative effort, Myanmar and China's law enforcement agencies arrested over 800 individuals suspected of involvement in cross-border scams, as announced by Beijing's embassy in Yangon on Monday.

The scam networks, often operated by citizens from China and other nations, have thrived in Myanmar, allegedly generating billions in revenue. These individuals are reported to coerce their compatriots into participating in fraudulent activities.

Beijing, a significant supporter and supplier of arms to Myanmar's isolated military regime, has consistently urged the junta to crack down on such illicit operations.

According to the embassy's WeChat channel, Chinese authorities cooperated with their Myanmar counterparts, leading to coordinated raids in Muse City, a key trading center in northern Shan state.

Myanmar police apprehended a total of 807 suspects involved in cross-border crimes, confiscating computers, mobile phones, and fraudulent materials, as stated in their official release.

Among those detained, 352 were Chinese nationals who were repatriated to China on Sunday, as confirmed by the embassy's statement. The military junta has not yet provided any comments regarding the operations.

Last year, the UN human rights office reported over 120,000 individuals held captive in scam facilities across Myanmar, with many located in Laukkai town in northeastern Shan state, which has since been seized by an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups vowing to eradicate such operations.

Chinese state media revealed that over 40,000 individuals suspected of involvement in cyber scams in Myanmar were extradited to China last year.

BOB Post