Lway Lao Jar, Jun 30
Online scam operations continue to grow in areas of Shan State, including Mong Hsu, Wan Hai, Hai Pu in southern Shan State, and Mongha in Mongyai and Tangyan Townships, according to Shwe Phee Myay’s investigation.
These areas are controlled by the junta’s military and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP). A source stated that it’s impossible for such operations to continue proliferating without the consent of the authorities in those respective areas.
“The Zhàpiàn (scam operations) are still ongoing. Mongha is where most operations occur, though now they’ve moved from town into nearby jungle areas. It’s not easy to find them if you don’t know their exact location, and no one is actually able to arrest them,” said the source.
He added that these operations now pay taxes to both armed bodies, the junta and the SSPP. He claimed that previous arrests were merely a charade, occurring when groups failed to pay taxes. Now, each scam operation group must pay at least 30 to 40 million kyats or more per month.
Sources say each scam group must pay the SSPP Yuan 4,000 (over 2 million kyats) per month to operate, while the tax amount owed to the junta military can vary.
To get a comment on the scam operations, Shwe Phee Myay tried to contact Maj Sai Bhone Han, spokesperson of the SSPP, via phone calls and SMS, but he has not yet replied.
Although the junta and SSPP have occasionally released news or statements about arrests and raids on scam operations, the scam operations continue to grow in the areas they control.
Also on March 23, the SSPP arrested a Chinese citizen operating a scam, seizing his phone, computer, and other related accessories, according to its statement.
Shwe Phee Myay’s investigation found that in junta-controlled Muse Township on the China border, military raids on scam centers were carried out only against those who had not regularly paid monthly bribes to the relevant authorities.
Residents have reported to Shwe Phee Myay that a scam operations group, consisting of around 500 members, arrived in Kar Chat village, near Man Kat village, in junta-controlled Tangyan Township on November 20, 2024.
Translated by #KLT
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