Our recent investigation has found a horrifying expansion of scam centers in Myanmar. One such site – KK Park – has become infamous for its extreme abuse. This remarkable complex stretches 210 hectares (520 acres) and lies on both sides of the Moei River. In the meantime, it acts as a militarized international frontier between Myanmar and Thailand. Five years ago, it was none other than an empty field. Today, it has become a launching pad for online fraud and scamming networks that target trafficked women and girls from Asia and Africa.
The Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking uncovers a concerning truth. Over 90 trafficking victims remain ensnared in KK Park’s walls. These people come from a minimum of 11 different countries, illustrating the global nature of this modern slavery epidemic. That reality has received more international attention as the horrifying stories of their exploitation and abuse begin to trickle out.
Recent drone images and photographs reveal significant development within KK Park, which now boasts an on-site hospital, multiple restaurants, a bank, and orderly rows of villas with manicured lawns. The development features a recently constructed community floating dock. Her new dock will greatly simplify the process of bringing supplies over from Thailand.
Mateo, a survivor from the Philippines, described his tragic journey of surviving six months stuck inside of KK Park. His story upholds the words of his comrade, who said, “For them life is worth less than money…… They don’t give a damn who they step on – the only thing they are concerned with is cash.” These statements highlight the lack of care among people running these scam call centres, where profit is prioritized over the well-being of human beings.
Thai police estimate that as many as 100,000 people are still being held in these scam centers. These detention centers are spread across the length of the Myanmar-Thailand border. Earlier this year, a large and very complicated rescue operation was able to free about 7,000 people from these compounds. This undertaking required collaboration across borders with Thai neighbors, Chinese and others whose nationals had been caught up in these schemes.
Scam centres such as KK Park are multiplying. This surge comes amidst the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup. Under the continued rule of the military junta, criminal enterprises have run rampant. Now, these enterprises have become indispensable not just to its conflict economy, but the country itself. Internationally, most governments have yet to truly recognize these scam centres as human trafficking crises of at best secondary importance.
Data from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute highlights a troubling trend: the number of scam centres on the Thai border has surged from 11 to 27. This staggering increase is representative of the true scope of the human trafficking epidemic. It sheds light on the creative tactics traffickers employ to ensure their business continues thriving.
Amy Miller, a local advocate for victims of human trafficking, said there needs to be more awareness about the problem. She stated, “To me, that’s such ignorance, in not understanding the scale of this and where it will grow to.” Her remarks underscore the need for immediate and concerted global action to address this growing crisis.
Federal and local authorities are desperately attempting to investigate and respond to these increasing threats. The children’s situation at KK Park is indicative of a larger wave of exploitation and trafficking occurring across Myanmar. Yet the issue’s complexity requires a concerted effort from governments worldwide. To impair these operations, we have to address not only the acute crisis but the deeper terrain that allows these operations to flourish.