The Chinese Ministry of Public Security has intensified its crackdown on Myanmar-based telecom fraud groups. Recently, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Chen Jianfeng, led an 11-member delegation on a surprise visit to Mesot County in Tak Province, Thailand, which borders the village of Sinmegu in Myanmar. This area faces the infamous KK Park across the river and is a concentration area for Chinese victims of telecom fraud.
Chen Jianfeng stated that this was his first visit to the area and he was surprised by the dense residential and commercial buildings, suspecting a large amount of Chinese grey capital hidden there. He also inspected the transit point in Tase Lu town—the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, confirming that a new batch of Chinese nationals involved in fraud is about to be deported.
The Chinese delegation also held closed-door meetings with Myanmar and Thai officials to strengthen the implementation details of the tri-nation joint crackdown on telecom fraud and reviewed a large amount of recently seized crime equipment. Chen Jianfeng reiterated that China will continue to eradicate "call centers" and other transnational fraud networks.
So far, more than 9,500 individuals involved in fraud have been deported. Analysts believe that with frequent high-level visits to the south, the next round of massive "return waves" and telecom fraud rectification actions are likely to be fully launched, and the telecom fraud stronghold in northern Myanmar is entering its most severe period of settlement.
