Authorities in Tachileik, eastern Shan State, have arrested 29 individuals, including seven Thai nationals and 22 Myanmar citizens, for their involvement in illegal online gambling and financial fraud operations.
Acting on reports of illicit online activities in Tachileik Township, security forces conducted a raid on February 12 at a residence in San Sai (A) Ward, rented by a Thai national; Wel San. The raid led to the arrest of 16 suspects, including Min Kyaw, the alleged ringleader, and Yi Yi Phyo, a translator and accountant. The group comprised 11 men and five women. Authorities also seized significant evidence, including 61 laptops, 329 flat desktop computers, 90 CPUs, 90 mobile phones, two unregistered vehicles, and various related equipment.
The following day, on February 13, authorities conducted another operation in the same area, detaining seven Thai men and six Myanmar nationals—one man and five women. The raid resulted in the confiscation of 50 computers, 300 mobile phones, four kilograms of raw opium sheets, 10 liters of opium extract, and 30 bottles of cough syrup containing controlled substances.
According to the statements of the arrested people, the Thai nationals entered Myanmar's Tachilek city through Friendship Bridge No. (1) to visit and work, and were contacted by those involved in illegal online gambling and money laundering. Necessary security measures are being taken to arrest the suspects, including the owner of the online game, Wel San, a Thai national living in Chiang Mai, and his wife, Yan Kyu, as soon as possible.
The arrested individuals, along with the seized evidence, are being processed for legal action as authorities continue to crack down on online scams and illicit gambling activities in the region.
