The Scam Lords of Myanmar – Key cyber scam kingpins in Myanmar, now detained by China, were once handpicked by the military regime. With billions at stake, is Min Aung Hlaing truly cooperating with international efforts—or just protecting his own?
BY PC Bureau
As Myanmar, China, and Thailand intensify their joint crackdown on border scam syndicates, one crucial detail remains overlooked—Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader who recently declared the fight against cybercrime a national duty, has deep ties to scam kingpins operating along Myanmar’s borders, according to Myanmar media reprots.
Key figures implicated in online fraud, such as Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF) leader Saw Chit Thu and former Kokang leaders arrested by China, have long-standing affiliations with Myanmar’s military leadership. These individuals, once entrusted with political and economic influence by the junta, are now at the center of the region’s cyber scam networks.
Kokang: A Haven for Scammers with Junta Backing
One of the most prominent figures detained by China is Bai Suocheng, the former Kokang leader accused of running online fraud operations targeting Chinese citizens. Bai was appointed as the first leader of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan State after Myanmar’s military seized control of the region from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in 2009. His son, Bai Yingneng (aka Khin Maung Lwin), served as a lawmaker for the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and was later appointed to Kokang’s military administration after the 2021 coup.
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Another key figure, Liu Zhengxiang, CEO of the Fully Light Group of Companies, is also under detention in China for his role in scam operations. A major business player in Kokang, Liu maintained close ties with Min Aung Hlaing and was honored with a junta-conferred title.
Similarly, Wei San, now in Chinese custody, held a powerful military position after the 2009 Kokang conflict. He led Border Guard Force 1006, created by the Myanmar military, and retained influence through an advisory role even after retirement.
Myanmar Junta Boss Has Well Documented Ties to Cyber Scam Kingpins
Anything for the CCP I guess for MAL#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar https://t.co/AzfwrJQZh4
— Tommy Han Min (@chanchaniceman) February 28, 2025
When MNDAA forces launched Operation 1027 in late 2023, besieging Laukkai, Myanmar’s military evacuated Bai, Wei, and other Kokang tycoons to Naypyitaw, shielding them from the offensive. However, under mounting pressure from Beijing, Min Aung Hlaing eventually handed them over to Chinese authorities.
Saw Chit Thu and the Shwe Kokko Scam Hub
The Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy has become Southeast Asia’s most notorious scam hub, operating under the jurisdiction of Saw Chit Thu, leader of the Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF). Once a rebel commander, Saw Chit Thu signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar military, transforming his faction into a junta-backed armed group.
In 2017, he partnered with Yatai International, owned by She Zhijiang, a Chinese-Cambodian businessman now detained in Thailand, to develop Shwe Kokko as a supposed “New City” project. Although Myanmar’s Investment Commission initially approved limited development, the project quickly expanded, drawing scrutiny for illegal activities.
After the 2021 coup, Thailand briefly cut power and telecom services to Shwe Kokko, but Myanmar’s military restored services within weeks, allowing scam operations to flourish. Following a crackdown on scam hubs in northern Shan, many groups relocated to Myawaddy, where they enjoyed protection from both the BGF and the military regime.
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According to a United States Institute of Peace report, Myanmar’s military receives nearly 50% of the BGF’s annual revenue from Shwe Kokko, estimated at $192 million.
Crackdowns Under Pressure, but No High-Level Arrests
With increasing demands from China and Thailand, Myanmar’s regime and Saw Chit Thu have conducted mass arrests at scam compounds along the Thai border, detaining thousands of low-level operatives. However, none of the top ringleaders have been officially captured, and neither China nor Thailand has confirmed arresting any key figures behind the operations.
Despite international scrutiny, no BGF officials, including Saw Chit Thu, have been arrested, and Thailand has yet to issue arrest warrants against them—though it has signaled its intent to do so.
While Min Aung Hlaing portrays himself as a key player in the anti-cybercrime initiative, his deep ties to scam syndicates raise serious questions about the sincerity of Myanmar’s crackdown and the junta’s role in fostering criminal networks.
