4/29/24, 2:31 PM China Forces Myanmar Scam Syndicates to Move to Thai Border | United States Institute of Peace Hong Kong, Laos, Dubai, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. This would require the compilation of a global watch list of companies and individuals involved in cross-border activity in known criminal zones within the Moei River area. 3. Providing robust support and cooperation with the KNU police to strengthen their ability to investigate, disrupt, seize and arrest the perpetrators, and to remain resilient vis-à-vis efforts by the KNA and DKBA to capture or co-opt them. In the current situation, Thailand has very significant leverage as it looks to reset trade on the border. One potential option would be to re-open Myawaddy port for trade only with a party that agrees to help eradicate the scam compounds. The KNU could be a logical choice for such a partnership. 4. Following the example of the United Kingdom in sanctioning key criminal actors in the Karen scam operations. In December of 2023, the U.K. placed sanctions on three individuals involved in the criminal activity. China should also be encouraged to issue arrest warrants for known criminal actors involved, as it has done in the case of scam compounds on its border. PHOTO: A camp for people displaced by fighting along the Moei River, which separates Thailand, left, from Myanmar, March 7, 2022. (Adam Dean/The New York Times) The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). PUBLICATION TYPE: Analysis ABOUT THE AUTHORS Jason Tower Country Director, Burma Priscilla A. Clapp Senior Advisor https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/china-forces-myanmar-scam-syndicates-move-thai-border 8/11