Myanmar's military government has appealed to foreign governments to repatriate hundreds of citizens detained after raids on scam hubs near the Thai border. Officials say 13,272 foreigners from 47 countries were detained since January and 1,655 remain in custody, with more than 500 of those being Chinese nationals. Many detainees are held in sports facilities and repurposed compounds, and deportations for some African nationals have been delayed due to a lack of local embassies.
Myanmar Asks Countries to Repatriate Hundreds of Foreign Detainees After Raids on Scam Hubs
Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, leader of the military information team, speaks after press briefing on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar's military government has urged foreign governments to collect hundreds of their citizens detained during recent raids on large scam hubs in Kayin State, near the Thai border.
Authorities say large-scale operations in recent months targeted two major compounds on the outskirts of Myawaddy — known as KK Park and Shwe Kokko — that allegedly housed online scam and illegal gambling operations. Officials report the raids led to the detention of thousands of foreign nationals.
Detention Figures and Conditions
Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, fifth from left, leader of the military information team, speaks during a news conference on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
At a Yangon press conference, Maj.-Gen. Aung Kyaw Kyaw, deputy minister for Home Affairs, said authorities had detained 13,272 foreigners from 47 countries since the crackdown began in January. While the majority have been deported, 1,655 remain in custody.
Col. Min Thu Kyaw, who led the suppression operations and serves as Kayin State's minister for security and border affairs, said officials are struggling to manage the diverse group of detainees. "They are different nationals, who have different religions, morals and personalities," he said. "We want the international community to come and call them quickly. It would be more convenient if they call them back as soon as possible."
"They are different nationals, who have different religions, morals and personalities. We want the international community to come and call them quickly." — Col. Min Thu Kyaw
Most of those still awaiting deportation are being held in Myawaddy's sports facilities, in buildings run by the Kayin Border Guard Force, and in former scam compounds repurposed as detention sites.
A military officer looks at photos displayed during a news conference on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Nationalities and Delays
The largest single group among the remaining detainees are Chinese nationals, numbering more than 500. Other sizeable groups include citizens from Indonesia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Kenya and India — each estimated at roughly 100–300 people. Officials say deportations for some nationals, particularly from several African countries that do not maintain embassies in Myanmar or Thailand, have been delayed for as long as five months.
Broader Context
People look at seized computers from online scam centers and photos displayed during a news conference on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Myanmar has become notorious as a base for cyber scam networks that target victims globally, often using romance-based approaches to lure people into fraudulent investment platforms. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimates such criminal networks generate just under $40 billion in annual revenue.
State-run MRTV has aired footage of security operations in the Myawaddy area, including video and photographs of buildings being demolished with explosives and bulldozers. The military government says the latest crackdown began in early September; critics argue that the alleged masterminds behind the schemes continue to operate from other locations.
Local Power Dynamics
Ethnic Karen armed groups exert strong influence around Myawaddy. The military-backed Border Guard Force — which has signed a ceasefire with Myanmar's army — has claimed involvement in the crackdown, though it has previously been accused of providing protection to scam operators. The Karen National Union (KNU), part of the nationwide resistance to military rule, has also been implicated by authorities via reported real-estate links; both groups deny involvement in the scam operations.
The military has appealed to the international community to help identify and repatriate detained foreign nationals while critics continue to call for more thorough investigations into the networks behind the scams and the groups that enabled them.
