More than 100 Chinese nationals involved in telecom scams, locally known as Zhapian operations, were arrested at a large compound in Tachileik Town, eastern Shan State, near the Chinese border.

On the morning of February 4, junta troops and junta-appointed civilian officials raided the vast Yaung Ni Oo compound in Saykhan Ward, Tachileik, making the arrests.

“Police have arrested Chinese nationals living in the Yaung Ni Oo apartments. We don’t know the exact number, but it could be over 100,” a town resident said.

The arrested Chinese are believed to be involved in scam operations, and the junta has been patrolling the town with military vehicles since the arrests, according to another resident of Tachileik.

“More than 100 Chinese nationals were arrested after a raid on the compound, and lately, there have been more and more junta and police vehicles seen around town,” he added.

Locals suggested the arrested Chinese could be those who fled scam compounds in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, after the junta’s crackdown, or came from similar operations in Cambodia.

Similarly, the junta announced that on February 3, it had arrested 321 Chinese men and 9 women who were secretly running scam operations from makeshift tents in the forest near Hipu Village, southeast of Mongyai Town in eastern Shan State.