Online scam operations are relocating and operating with the assistance of armed groups along the Nam Ting Creek in Shan State’s Laihka and Mongkaing Townships, according to local sources.
Since early 2025, these online scam operations have proliferated in the forested areas along the Nam Ting Creek across Laihka, Mongkaing, and Kyethi Townships.
Locals report that these operations are being moved and conducted with support from local armed groups and people’s militias.
“There are at least 2,000 Chinese nationals involved in scam operations in areas between Kyethi and Laihka. The groups are quite big. They’re the same groups as before, protected by both Shan armed groups and people’s militias. When the military council plans to crack down, they hide them within their territories, moving from one place to another,” said a local who requested anonymity for security reasons.
These scam operations are constantly relocating within the Wan Pang village tract in Laihka Township, evading the junta’s reach due to security provided by armed groups and people’s militias, locals say.
The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) is headquartered in Wan Hai, Kyethi Township, while the Wan Pang-based people’s militia operates in Laihka Township.
“They keep moving around in Wan Pang village tract where Mongkaing, Laihka, and Kyethi meet. When news of the scams leaks, they move to nearby villages. The Shan armed groups and people’s militia provide security, so the military council doesn’t dare enter those areas,” the same local man added.
Similarly, in the third week of March, the junta arrested over 700 people involved in scam operations in Nansang Township.
Following this, many operations relocated to the Pang Hlan Seng area, controlled by the Mat Keng People’s Militia, between Mongnai and Nansang Townships, where they continue to operate, according to locals.
“There’s another group in Mongnai, probably over 700 people. After the junta cracked down on scammers in Nansang, many moved to Pang Hlan Seng. There are hundreds of them,” a local resident said.
On 10 June, the SSPP issued an order to its ground troops within its controlled territories, prohibiting involvement in drug trafficking, scam operations, and arms trading.
The order, reissued for the third time, warns that those continuing to engage in scam operations will face consequences.
It also states that if the junta or the Chinese government requests the handover of individuals involved in scams, the SSPP/SSA will arrest and transfer them.
The repeated issuance of the order was necessitated by some individuals secretly continuing these operations in SSPP-controlled areas, despite previous prohibitions, the statement noted.
Sent by Shan News.
