Yangon | The Myanmar government has signalled an uncompromising crackdown on telecom fraud and online gambling, declaring that these organised crimes will be eliminated entirely from the country. Speaking at a press conference in Yangon, Zaw Min Tun, head of the Information Team of Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council, said telecom scams and online gambling were no longer mere financial offences but had emerged as serious threats to national security.
Zaw Min Tun said such crimes undermine public trust, damage economic security and have a direct negative impact on the country’s stability and international reputation. “The government will not tolerate telecom fraud and online gambling under any circumstances,” he said, making it clear that authorities intend to pursue the issue to its logical end.
Crackdown driven by international cooperation
According to official data, Myanmar has been working closely with the international community to curb these crimes. Over the past two years, more than 70,000 foreign nationals found to be involved in telecom fraud and online gambling networks have been repatriated to 54 countries under special operations. These include citizens from several nations across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Officials stressed that the campaign is not limited to arrests and deportations alone. Instead, it is part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling the infrastructure and financial backbone of these criminal networks.
Bulldozers roll into scam hubs, major action at KK Park
Authorities said that KK Park—long regarded as a hub for online scams and illegal gambling—has been the focus of a large-scale demolition drive. So far, 398 buildings allegedly used as scam call centres and illegal online gambling facilities have been razed. The government said the operation was completed up to December 12, with the remaining 237 structures set to be demolished in the next phase.
Zaw Min Tun said the objective of clearing the entire area was to ensure that such criminal networks are unable to re-establish themselves in the future.
National-level monitoring committee formed
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Major General Aung Kyaw Kyaw said a national-level central supervisory committee was constituted on December 10 to combat telecom fraud and online gambling. The committee has been tasked with dismantling criminal networks operating in border areas, preventing their spread within the country and ensuring a coordinated, systematic response to organised cybercrime.
He said the panel would strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies, improve intelligence sharing and enable faster, more effective action on the ground.
‘Myanmar is not the root, the network is global’
The deputy home minister also sought to clarify that while several scam centres have been found operating within Myanmar, the roots of telecom fraud and online gambling are spread across international networks. He said Myanmar is neither the origin of these crimes nor the biggest beneficiary of them.
Calling for greater global cooperation, he urged international organisations and foreign governments to step up intelligence sharing, technical assistance and training support. “It is not possible for any single country to tackle such complex, cross-border criminal networks on its own,” he said.
Myanmar’s tough stance is being seen as a strong signal in Southeast Asia, a region increasingly grappling with telecom fraud and online gambling syndicates that operate across borders and exploit regulatory gaps.
