Hundreds flee to Thailand after Myanmar scam centre raid

More than 600 people fled one of Myanmar's most notorious scam centres and crossed into Thailand, a Thai provincial official told reporters on Thursday, after a military raid on the compound.

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Sprawling compounds where internet fraudsters target people with romance and business cons have thrived along Myanmar’s loosely governed border during its civil war, sparked by a 2021 coup.

A highly publicised crackdown starting in February saw around 7,000 workers repatriated and Thailand enact a cross-border internet blockade.

But an AFP investigation this month revealed construction has continued apace at several compounds, while Starlink internet service receivers have been installed en masse, seeming to connect the hubs to the Elon Musk-owned satellite network.

Sawanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, deputy governor of Tak province on the Myanmar border, told reporters “677 people fled from the scam centre,” known as KK Park, across the Moei river into Thailand as of Thursday morning.

Another crowd of more than 100 people gathered on the Myanmar side of the main local border crossing to Thailand early on Thursday, a journalist saw, many carrying large suitcases and backpacks.