The Destruction of a Notorious Myanmar Scam Compound Appears to Have Been ‘Performative’

November 26, 2025 by Cnznews

after myanmar army The junta raided a notorious scam compound in October and destroyed buildings with explosives, with officials claiming the country would forcefully “eradicate” the scam within its borders. Newly released satellite images of the now-targeted KK Park scam center show that only a limited portion of the complex’s buildings were destroyed during the initial raids. Meanwhile, experts involved in the scam say the entire effort is likely “hype”.

High-resolution images of the KK Park scam complex, which is located near the Myanmar-Thailand border, show how military forces have demolished several buildings, leaving piles of debris in their place. However, photographs show that the destruction has so far been limited to the eastern part of the huge complex – with hundreds of buildings across the vast complex remaining untouched.

Multiple experts tell WIRED that the raids on KK Park and some other scam complexes are likely part of a broader “demonstrative” effort by Myanmar’s military government, which is under increasing pressure to deal with the highly lucrative scam complexes that have proliferated in recent years. They also raise concerns about the welfare of thousands of people forced to resort to scams at KK Park.

“The junta is acting as if they are destroying the entire complex, and the imagination we’ve seen so far is limited to just one section,” says Eric Heintz, global analyst for the International Justice Mission, an anti-slavery organization. “It is important to continue monitoring them to verify that they are actually doing and [see] If it’s just for show or are they actually troubleshooting the real problem.”

Satellite images taken on 16 November show that some buildings located around the courtyards are almost completely destroyed, with debris scattered around other buildings. Heintz says the images, as well as additional social media footage, indicate that some “villas” and dormitories where trafficking victims may have been housed appear to be damaged or destroyed. (Myanmar’s military government has said that more destruction began on 17 November; third-party reports also indicate that more buildings have been destroyed).

“The critical buildings you would need to carry out scams are all still intact and still ready for use,” says Mechel B. Moore, CEO of the anti-trafficking nonprofit Global Alms, which is based in Thailand and works to help people who have been trafficked escape scam complexes in Myanmar. Moore claims, “They’re making a good show right now to say they don’t support scam compounds or human trafficking. But what they’ve allowed is all the scam syndicates—all the scam owners and supervisors—have been allowed to get away.”

Over the past decade, dozens of scams have emerged in Southeast Asia, primarily in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Often run by or linked to Chinese organized crime groups, these compounds trick people into working for them – often with offers of high-paying jobs – and then force them to perform a variety of scams. Passports of trafficking victims are often taken away; If they refuse to commit the scam they may be tortured or beaten. By stealing from people around the world, Compound has made billions for organized crime groups.

Amid widespread criminality, KK Park has emerged as one of the largest and most notorious scam complexes in Myanmar. Five years ago, the location was a series of fields near the town of Myawaddy, but has since been transformed into a massive complex with hundreds of buildings and thousands of people.

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