Junta announced 90 Chinese nationals involved in telecom scam (locally known as Zhapian) operations were arrested along with equipment used in the activities in Matman Township in eastern Shan State.
During the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s ‘Operation 1027’ against the junta, Hopang came under the control of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), prompting the junta to designate Matman town in Matman District as the administrative seat of the Wa Region on 19 September 2025.
According to the junta, security forces carried out raids and searches on May 12 and 13 after receiving reports of telecom scam operations along the eastern bank of the Thanlwin (Salween) River in Matman Township.
During the operation, authorities arrested 90 Chinese nationals and seized 10 Starlink internet devices, nearly 50 computers, 20 large generators, and solar panels.
At the riverside site, more than 60 residential and operational buildings, along with warehouses for medicines and food, and water purification facilities, had been systematically constructed. In addition, the junta announced the confiscation of 100 bags of rice and various other food supplies.
Out of humanitarian considerations and in the spirit of bilateral friendship, the 90 arrested Chinese nationals will be handed over to the Chinese government after necessary investigations are completed.
Similarly, on May 4, 52 Chinese and 4 Myanmar nationals allegedly involved in telecom scams were arrested in a jungle area of Mong Pan Township in southern Shan State, according to the junta.
However, Shan political analyst Sai Wan Sai previously commented that the junta's actions were largely symbolic, aimed at easing international pressure rather than reflecting a genuine effort to eradicate telecom scams.
He said the junta’s crackdown on telecom scam operations in Muse, Tachileik, Mong Pan, Namsang, Thibaw (Hsipaw), Matman, and other townships in Shan State appears to be little more than a superficial effort to appease China, project an image to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that it is committed to anti-scam operations, and ease international pressure.
Since late 2023, China has been pressuring the junta to intensify its crackdown on telecom scam operations along the border.
On the other hand, the FBI has also begun efforts to combat cybercrime in the region by establishing a Cyber Scam Task Force.
It is estimated that U.S. citizens lost more than 7.2 billion USD in 2025 to Myanmar-based money laundering networks.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs has announced a reward of up to 10 million USD for information leading to the exposure of money laundering activities linked to scam centers known as Tai Chang 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 in Karen State.
