Cyber-fraud networks in Myanmar are being protected with Starlink: satellite antennas to bypass blockades and continue operating.

The Cyber-fraud networks based in Burma have accelerated their expansion and, according to recent documentation, They are increasingly relying on Starlink antennas to keep its operations connected to the internet despite blocking attempts and police operations.

The phenomenon is concentrated on the border with Thailand, around Myawaddy and along the Moei River, where guarded complexes have continued to expand with new construction, while the SpaceX company remains silent in response to inquiries about the use of its service in these enclaves.

What's happening on the Burmese border?

Following an announced campaign to dismantle the complexes, work continued: The latest observations show newly erected buildings in areas near Myawaddy, with enclosures made up of small houses, barbed wire and armed presence, a environment that facilitates online scams aimed at victims around the world.

Criminal organizations operate in these settlements., many of them of Chinese origin, who exploit thousands of workers under duress to attract, through social networks and messaging, potential targets with false investments or romances, generating multi-million dollar losses every year.

Starlink antennas and internet outages

Compounds They have multiplied the number of satellite dishes in the service to overcome interruptions and connectivity restrictions in the area., especially after measures on the Thai side. Rows of terminals can be seen on several rooftops, a display that strengthens resilience of these criminal networks.

The Asia-Pacific Internet Registry (APNIC) indicates that, although Starlink was practically absent in the country in February, by mid-June it had become one of the main access providers in Myanmar, a escalation that coincides with the proliferation of equipment in fraudulent centers.

Evidence: images and proper names

An analysis of Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, along with aerial recordings obtained by journalists, reveals the continuity of the works and the presence of antennas on the roofs. In the macro-complex known as KK Park, between March and September, dozens of new structures or modified.

Drone footage confirms intense activity at KK Park, with cranes, scaffolding, and workers at work. Movement has also been reported at 26 other centers in the Myawaddy area, including sites such as Shwe Kokko, a already pointed out by authorities international.

Regional pressure, operations and sanctions

Under pressure from China, Thailand, and Burma itself, militias allied with the junta pledged to dismantle these centers. In this context, about 7.000 people —mostly of Chinese nationality— were released in operations that the UN links to situations of forced labor and trafficking about people.

Despite the headlines surrounding those operations, work resumed weeks later at various points along the Moei River. At the same time, the United States sanctioned nine individuals linked to Shwe Kokko and businessman She Zhijiang, linked to the Yatai New City project, a measure that tries to suffocate financially to these networks.

US research and corporate silence

A bipartisan congressional committee opened an investigation in July to clarify how Starlink is being used at these complexes, with the power to request testimony and documentation. The court could summon Elon Musk as part of the investigation..

To date, SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, has not offered public comments on its eventual role in providing internet access to these centersThe lack of response keeps open questions about controls, distribution of terminals and compliance with terms of service in high-risk areas.

The Golden Triangle and the machinery of fraud

The complexes are located in the axis of the so-called Golden Triangle —between Burma, Thailand, China and Laos—, region marked by drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal gambling and money laundering. Corruption and internal conflict have allowed criminal groups to expand and diversify their businesses with digital operations.

Thai authorities have estimated that At least 100.000 people work in these centers on the Burmese border alone.. Citizens from Asia, Africa or the Middle East are recruited with false offers; many report beatings, coercion and selling between compounds for large sums, such as approximately $20.000 that was paid for a young Chinese man recruited in June 2024, who was resold before being rescued months later.

Targeted centers and on-field dynamics

In addition to KK Park, Shwe Kokko stands out for his track record and for the attention of international financial authorities. Recent construction and improvements detected in the more than twenty enclaves around Myawaddy suggest a capacity for adaptation. sustained even under police pressure.

The deployment of antennas and the internal reorganization of these enclosures show how They prioritize redundancy and connectivity to keep their call centers and messaging teams active., ensuring a constant flow of potential victims on a global scale.

Key facts about the situation

• Geographic scope: Myawaddy and the Moei River bank, on the border with Thailand.
• Technology: Starlink satellite dish rise to avoid internet outages.
• Evidence: Planet Labs PBC images and drone footage confirm construction work and antennas..
• Human balance: Thousands of trafficking victims freed and an estimated 100.000 workers.

The combination of satellite connectivity, rapid real estate expansion, and unequal pressure from authorities has allowed these centers to continue operating. While the investigation in the U.S. continues and sanctions and operations continue, visual evidence and traffic data suggest that Starlink has become a key piece for the continuity of these fraud networks in Burma.