People’s Radio Myanmar
August 6, 2026
Chinese cyber scam syndicates operating in the DKBA controlled Kyauk Khat village along the Thai-Myanmar border are reportedly relocating to evade mounting pressure from Thai, Chinese, and US law enforcement agencies. Sources indicate that the military junta and the ceasefire group, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), are staging a superficial crackdown while quietly facilitating the relocation of these illicit operations.
The syndicates are being moved from Kyauk Khat to Son See Myaing, the DKBA headquarters. This sudden influx of scam operators has unexpectedly boosted the local economy in Son See Myaing, as grocery stores and vendors cater to the daily needs of the relocated Chinese gangs.
“Since the Kyauk Khat scam centers became too infamous, the military started applying pressure. Now, they have been given new spaces in Son See Myaing and Wah Mee Hta (Shwe Aye Myaing). Village shops are seeing booming sales. New shops are opening, and it’s bustling like a festival with so many Chinese moving in,” a local grocery store owner in Son See Myaing shared.
Conversely, the massive relocation has left Kyauk Khat desolate. Hundreds of buildings previously used for scam operations sit empty. Shops and businesses that heavily relied on Chinese workers have either closed down or moved, leaving the once-crowded village quiet and deserted, according to a Kyauk Khat local who previously worked at a scam site.
“With the Chinese gone, the roads and shops in Kyauk Khat are empty and dead silent. The crowds, cars, and busy shops are no more. Work sites are closed, and ongoing construction has completely halted. Many workers followed the syndicates to Son See Myaing for jobs, leaving only the original villagers behind,” a construction worker from Kyauk Khat explained.
Despite DKBA leaders shifting these operations to appease the military and deflect international scrutiny, the human cost remains high. Reports of foreign nationals escaping from these scam compounds and the ongoing rescues of human trafficking victims subjected to forced labor continue to surface daily along the Thai-Myanmar border.
