Junta Raids Myanmar Scam Hub, Finds Many Starlink Dishes

Myanmar’s ruling junta said it raided KK Park, a cyber‑scam complex near the Thai border occupying about 200 buildings, detaining roughly 2,200 people and arresting some foreign suspects. State media reported the seizure of 30 Starlink receivers and accessories, but AFP imagery and analysis found many more dishes—nearly 80 on a single rooftop—highlighting widespread unlicensed Starlink use. Starlink (SpaceX) is not licensed in Myanmar, and U.S. congressional investigators have begun probing the service after regional internet‑registry data showed steep increases in Starlink traffic. Authorities and analysts say the centres, often run by Chinese syndicates with local militia backing, have trafficked and coerced workers and form part of a criminal economy the UN estimates cost victims about $37 billion in 2023. The raid follows a transnational push since February that freed thousands from similar compounds, and the junta accused local ethnic actors, including the Karen National Union, of involvement in leasing land for the operations.