Myanmar Raid Seizes Starlink, Spurs Exodus

Myanmar’s military raided and “cleared” KK Park, a notorious cyber‑scam compound on the Thailand–Myanmar border, seizing Starlink satellite terminals and taking control of the site. The operation prompted between 677 and 1,049 people — mostly Chinese and including nationals from India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar and others — to flee across the Moei River into Thailand; Thai authorities have detained 677 and recorded 1,049 arrivals and are screening them to determine trafficking victims versus illegal entrants who could face prosecution. Thai officials have made extra detention space available and are coordinating with local security agencies to maintain border order. Reporting indicates the sprawling compounds are largely run by Chinese criminal gangs and protected by local militias, and that international cooperation (including recent Chinese law‑enforcement actions) is targeting transnational telecom fraud. Starlink terminals had proliferated at the hubs; SpaceX said it disabled thousands of devices and authorities seized terminals during the raid. The crackdown follows earlier repatriations, partial cross‑border internet blockades and previous raids as authorities seek to curb a scam industry estimated to have defrauded victims of up to $37 billion in 2023.