Recently, the incident of actor Wang Xing being deceived into a scam park in Myanmar has attracted global attention and heated discussion. Although Wang Xing has been rescued, there are still more "Wang Xings" trapped in scam parks, with their lives hanging by a thread.
Now, the behavior of these criminals is no longer just telecommunications fraud, but has escalated to kidnapping and extortion.
On May 22, 2024, a Myanmar investigative organization released the "Exposure of the Criminal Business Network of the Karen Border Guard Force/Karen National Army," which disclosed the business network controlled by the family of the leader of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) and other related interests.
The report used open-source materials and corporate data to investigate the corporate structure of the Karen Border Guard Force and the main participants in its criminal business network.
The investigation utilized Myanmar company records from March 2022 (before access was restricted by the military government) and company records from Thailand and Hong Kong since 2024, leaked Myanmar tax and corporate archives, including the Myanmar Revenue Department's leaked database, social media posts of members of the Karen Border Guard Force and their colleagues, company websites, satellite images, and media reports.
This article is based on the entities mentioned in this investigative report and investigates some other criminal interest teams. It introduces Asia Pacific New City, Yulong Bay Park, Apollo Park, Dongmei Park, KK Park, etc., which involve entities from China, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, and other parts of the world.
Some of the criminal gangs related to these parks have been arrested, but some criminal gangs and personnel are still at large, such as the illegal casino "Golden Winner" in the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone, which was established and operated by Australian Brian Colwell for Destiny GlobalGroup registered in Hong Kong. The director and controlling shareholder of Destiny Company is a Malaysian, suspected to be the Chief International Gaming Marketing Officer of the "Travellers International Hotel Group Limited" in the Philippine gaming industry.
Saw Chit Thu and his family and a few other members of the Karen Border Guard Force collaborate with criminal accomplices holding Thai, Malaysian, Cambodian, Singaporean, Chinese, and Australian citizenships, establishing an extensive criminal business network. The Karen Border Guard Force and Saw Chit Thu's family have become wealthy through providing protection for parks and engaging in global online fraud and other illegal means.
Saw Chit Thu's Family Business
The Karen Border Guard Force is directly responsible for various persecutions in its area of activity, including killing civilians, torture, arbitrary detention, forced portering, use of human shields, forced conscription, forced labor, extortion, and land confiscation.
The Karen Border Guard Force is led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu, who is 55 years old and holds the rank of colonel. He is the secretary-general and "senior advisor" of this armed group.
Saw Chit Thu was a member of the 101st Special Battalion of the Karen National Union (KNU) and later became a leader of the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which signed a ceasefire agreement with the then military government. In 2010, the DKBA transformed into the "Border Guard Force," affiliated with the Myanmar military's People's Militia and Territorial Forces Directorate.
As part of the integration into the Myanmar military command and providing battlefield support, Saw Chit Thu and his family and colleagues benefited from the material support and space provided by the Myanmar military to establish their lucrative criminal business. In return, the Myanmar military gained income from organized crime within the Karen Border Guard Force.
According to a leaked 2010-11 shareholder report, the Karen Border Guard Force also profited from the income of the systemic corruption of the Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), with each Karen Border Guard Force battalion holding shares.
The Karen Border Guard Force consists of four military regions with 13 battalions, active in towns such as Lay Kay Kaw, Papun, Pa'an, Myawaddy, Kawkareik, and Jayinseikyi.
Saw Chit Thu holds shares and director positions in at least five Karen Border Guard Force companies and can control significant militia enterprises with his family, despite previously claiming he was just an "advisor."
Saw Chit Thu has two sons, both serving as majors in the Karen Border Guard Force: his elder son, Saw Htoo Eh Moo, 33 years old, actively engages in the business of the Karen Border Guard Force, holding shares in nine Karen Border Guard Force companies and joint ventures (including two online fraud parks) and serving as a director.
His younger son, Saw Chit Chit, 29 years old, actively participates in military operations of the military government, having commanded the Karen Border Guard Force against resistance forces.
Saw Chit Chit also holds shares and director positions in at least five Karen Border Guard Force enterprises. Saw Chit Chit is also a car enthusiast, owning multiple luxury cars. He is also a football enthusiast, often organizing football matches.
Saw Chit Thu's daughter, Nan Hnin Nandar Aye, 27 years old, studied at TMC College in Singapore and the University of Northampton in the UK, earning degrees in business and management.
Nan Hnin Nandar Aye holds shares and director positions in at least four Karen Border Guard Force enterprises and is the actual operator of various companies and parks controlled by Saw Chit Thu.
According to social media posts by Saw Chit Thu's wife, Nan Khin Hla Thu, she participates in some of the family's business operations. Although she does not hold shares or director positions in any Karen Border Guard Force company, she benefits from the profits of the Karen Border Guard Force's criminal activities.
She acts as the property manager of various online fraud parks in Myawaddy. Those online fraud companies and parks must pay rent, property fees, utilities, and security fees to Nan Khin Hla Thu, making her one of the behind-the-scenes manipulators.
According to records from the Myanmar Company Registry in 2022, when the shares of Saw Chit Thu and his three children are combined, the family owns 50% or more of the shares in six Karen Border Guard Force enterprises:
Chit Linn Myaing Toyota Company Limited (65%)
Chit Linn Myaing Mining & Industry Company Limited (68%)
Dawna Thanlwin Company Limited (60%)
Htoo Thitsar Aung Company Limited (80%)
Htoo Myittar Htoo Company Limited (70%)
Shwe Badaythar Myain Company Limited (50%)
Saw Chit Thu controls additional companies under the Karen Border Guard Force:
Chit Linn Myaing Toyota Company Limited
Chit Linn Myaing Mining & Industry Company Limited
Chit Linn Myaing Energy Company Limited
Myanmar Apolo International Investment Company Limited
Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group Company Limited
Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Holdings Limited
Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Company Limited
Yulong Bay Resort Tourism Development Company Limited
Saw Min Min Oo, a colonel and former battalion commander of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), holds management positions in key companies of the Karen Border Guard Force. He serves as a director and shareholder in at least seven Karen Border Guard Force enterprises, although his maximum shareholding is 20%.
He was reportedly the general manager and director of Chit Linn Mying Company Limited (now dissolved), although Saw Chit Thu was also publicly listed as the company's general manager and director. Saw Min Min Oo is the only representative of the Karen Border Guard Force on the board of directors of Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group Company Limited, with the Karen Border Guard Force holding 20% of the company's shares in his name.
Saw Tin Win is a professional of the Karen Border Guard Force. He and his wife, Nan Myint Myint Win, control Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Holdings Limited and Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Company Limited (SMTY).
Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Company previously signed a contract to import electricity from Thailand, providing power for the scam centers and online casinos in Myawaddy (Thailand announced a temporary suspension of electricity exports to Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone and Reggae High-tech Town in 2023).
Saw Min Min Oo and Saw Tin Win are both co-founders of the Myanmar Industrial Raw Mineral Producers Association Incorporated, established in 2019 to promote the mining industry, with Saw Min Min Oo serving as vice-chairman and Saw Tin Win as an executive officer.
In December 2023, the British government sanctioned Saw Chit Thu and Saw Min Min Oo, citing their "responsibility for, support of, or profiting from the trafficking of people to the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone, where victims are forced to engage in scam work" and subjected to cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment or punishment."
In the above sanction documents, a company with a well-documented record of involvement in scams and human trafficking in Cambodia, Zheng Heng (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, can also be seen. Zheng Heng Group, through its Long Bay development project in Koh Kong Province's Seven Star Sea Economic Zone, is involved in human trafficking and scam activities.
Zheng Heng Group's chairman, Deng Pibing (transliterated as 'Deng Bibing'), holds Cambodian citizenship and is listed as the sole director of Zheng Heng Limited in business records. He admitted in a phone call that his company "manages" the Long Bay Casino but denied knowledge or responsibility for the matter. He attributed the criminal activities related to the Long Bay Casino to Som Chanmony, a director of Long Bay Entertainment, which obtained the license to operate the casino in September 2022.
Long Bay Entertainment then subleased a range of gambling services at the Long Bay Casino to Century Entertainment International Holdings Limited, headquartered in Hong Kong, operated by Macau casino boss Ng Man Sun (also known as 'Street Market Wei'). Ng Man Sun serves as the chairman and CEO of Amaz International Holdings Limited (HKEX: 0959), president of Greek Mythology (Macau) Entertainment Group Corporation Limited, and director of Macau Hotel Investments Limited.
Century Entertainment International announced on May 3, 2024, that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wisdom Ocean Group Limited, entered into a casino agreement with Long Bay Entertainment concerning the leasing and operation of VIP rooms, with a term starting from the day the relevant resolution is approved at a special shareholders' meeting and lasting for three years.
According to investigative reports, the main business model of the Karen Border Guard Force's online scams: "In some cases, the Karen Border Guard Force has established large parks to accommodate dozens of companies, in other cases, hotels and apartments have been rented to operators, and publicly operated casinos also hide online activities. In most cases, the operations are controlled by criminals and criminals, usually with connections to local elites, or at least with their tacit approval and protection."
Asia Pacific New City
In February 2017, She Zhi Jiang and the Karen Border Guard Force jointly established Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group Limited (Myanmar Yatai), developing the "Asia Pacific New City" project. Saw Min Min Oo is the only director and shareholder representing the Karen Border Guard Force. Besides She Zhi Jiang, Myanmar Yatai also has two Malaysian directors and minority shareholders: Lim Jun Jie and Chow Tian Yu, both from Sarawak, with residential addresses near the luxurious DC Residensi apartments in Kuala Lumpur's upscale Gua area.
She Zhi Jiang, also known as She Lunkai and using aliases such as Kriang Kai Tang, She Lunkai, and Dylan She, was born in 1982 in Shaodong County, Hunan, and holds Cambodian citizenship (obtained in 2017). Originally the chairman of Yatai International Holdings Group, he collaborated with the Karen Border Guard Force and the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone, effectively creating a criminal center.
Asia Pacific claims its business is registered in Hong Kong, with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. As of May 9, 2024, its Hong Kong company, Yatai International Holding Group Limited, is still registered, with Kriang Kai Tang (She Zhi Jiang's Cambodian name) as the sole director and shareholder. She Zhi Jiang's address in the Hong Kong company records is in the Huay Khwang district of Bangkok. The Hong Kong company was established in January 2017, with "Prince Hao" as the sole director and shareholder, and the identity registration address located in Wujincheng, Liangshizhen, Shaodong County.
She Zhi Jiang's Thai Yatai International Holding Group Limited was registered in December 2017 and liquidated in December 2023. The sole director of the company in December 2023 was Thai citizen Chalermchai Yookam (transliterated as 'Chalermchai Yookam'), with shareholders including one Cambodian and two Chinese. Although the Thai company registry does not disclose the names of the shareholders, it can be inferred that the Cambodian shareholder controlling 98% of the company's shares is She Zhi Jiang, who has become a Cambodian citizen. The Thai company's registered address matches the Huay Khwang address listed by She Zhi Jiang in the Hong Kong registry. However, Asia Pacific International lists a different address on its website, which matches the Bizotel, a 30-room hotel in Bangkok's Phaya Thai district.
Asia Pacific International has also established a partnership with a cryptocurrency company based in Singapore, called "Building Cities Beyond Blockchain (BCB)," which claims to be "the first blockchain for smart cities." It also claims to be the exclusive blockchain provider for the "Asia Pacific New City" in the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone, supporting financial and commercial services, accommodation and food, construction, utilities, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, information, and communication.
In August 2022, based on an international arrest warrant, She Zhi Jiang was arrested by Thai police and requested for extradition. However, since he had already acquired Cambodian citizenship and was a Cambodian citizen, She Zhi Jiang was sentenced to 11 years in a Thai prison. Reportedly, his Asia Pacific Group officially sent a letter of appeal to the Cambodian government, stating that on the morning of October 29, more than ten prison guards in the death row area of the Thai Central Prison beat She Zhi Jiang, causing severe injuries, breathing difficulties, and paralysis. He is now unable to take care of himself, and without timely injury examination and treatment, there is a serious protest against the Thai government. She Zhi Jiang was also sanctioned by the UK in 2023 for his involvement in human trafficking activities in the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone.
Australian's Golden Winner Casino
The illegal casino "Golden Winner" in the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone was established and operated by Australian Brian Colwell for Destiny Global Group/Destiny Gaming Group (DGG Asia Limited). At that time, Colwell served as the Chief Operating Officer of Destiny Gaming, describing himself as "the most comprehensive gaming management group in Asia."
According to Brian Colwell's self-introduction, he has worked in the casino/gaming industry for over 40 years, covering all operational areas, including live table games, electronic table games, slot machines, security, surveillance, catering, guest services, marketing and promotions, human resources and management, online casinos/sports betting, and VIP/intermediary business.
He has held many executive positions and has extensive experience in the early operations of casinos, including design and setup, staff recruitment, equipment procurement and purchasing; he has direct contacts with all major gaming equipment suppliers and service providers. He has also worked in many different regions, including Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Moscow, Suriname, Christmas Island, Vanuatu, Seychelles, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Brian Colwell served as the Chief Operating Officer of the "Golden Winner" casino in the Shuigou Valley Special Economic Zone from December 2018 to December 2020, during which he established and managed the casino.
From June 2022 to November 2022, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Golden Winner casino, providing consulting services to various casinos on the Thailand/Myanmar border.
From January 2024 to August 2024, he worked remotely from home, providing consulting services to casinos worldwide.
From July 2024 to the present, he has been serving as the Gaming Area Manager at The Star Entertainment Group LIMITED, an Australian gambling and entertainment company. The Star Entertainment Group is Australia's largest listed casino group. The company was formerly known as Echo Entertainment.
Colwell describes the Golden Winner as part of the Asia-Pacific development project and recommends that the casino conduct transactions in cash. Colwell has posted many recruitment ads for the "Golden Winner" casino on LinkedIn, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he wrote on LinkedIn, "While most casinos are reducing staff, we are increasing staff due to expansion." A year ago, Colwell posted a job listing for an in-house casino management system software developer on LinkedIn, which described "regular face-to-face meetings with stakeholders (in Manila)."
Destiny Gaming's Malaysian Director and Controlling Shareholder
Manila is the residence of Destiny Gaming's director and controlling shareholder, Yaw Chee Cheow (Eric), a Malaysian citizen. Regarding the Golden Winner, Destiny Gaming's involvement helps to obscure the casino's owner. Colwell's post referred to the developer as "Golden Winner Entertainment," but no company with that name can be found in the company registries of Myanmar, Thailand, Hong Kong, or Singapore.
Further investigation into Yaw Chee Cheow (Eric) revealed that, according to regulatory filings of publicly
