4/29/24, 2:31 PM China Forces Myanmar Scam Syndicates to Move to Thai Border | United States Institute of Peace empire and ensuring that it retains access to key support services, such as security, communications connectivity and electricity. Neither Thai nor Chinese law enforcement has moved actively against him or two other BGF leaders involved in the criminal activity, while the junta’s ejection from the area leaves it effectively powerless to do so, even under Chinese pressure. The network of scam centers in Karen State presents a more complicated set of conflicting interests than existed along China’s border, where the fraud schemes were all run by local Chinese-speaking armed groups subject to considerable Chinese influence. In Karen, a wider set of internal and international actors makes organizing law enforcement action more difficult. As a result, Chinese network operators and local hosts have more freedom to forge ahead with expansion. Naming Names Key Karen actors involved in providing space and security for criminal activity, and otherwise fully complicit in it, include the following: The KNA/BGF: with three key individuals, Maung Chit Thu, Mote Thun and Tin Win Major Tin Win, a direct subordinate to Chit Thu, has been responsible for supporting the Chinese crime groups, including arranging for electricity and internet from Thailand. Chit Thu and Tin Win host, support and profit from scam compounds near Myawaddy, including Shwekokko, Jinxin, Hengsheng and Dongfanghui, which is operated by the now defunct Kokang BGF Fully Light Group. Also under their control is the notorious KK Park Project, which has been heavily involved in scams targeting Americans. Tin Win is also known to be involved with Roger Khin in the Huanya Project (see below). These compounds are some of the most notorious, where human rights abuses inside are extreme. Lt. Col. Mote Thun, a founding member of the Karen BGF with Chit Thu, is the deputy general secretary of the BGF/KNA. In practice, his power and influence almost equal Chit Thu’s, particularly south of Myawaddy township. Key compounds under his control include Wan Kuok-Koi’s (aka Broken Tooth) https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/china-forces-myanmar-scam-syndicates-move-thai-border 5/11