As satellite internet technology becomes more widespread, the difficulty of combating telecom fraud parks in Myanmar is rapidly increasing. Experts warn that criminal activities in the parks may become more rampant as a result.
Previously, Thailand had successfully rescued thousands of victims trapped in fraud parks by cutting off electricity, fuel supply, and internet access to the Myanmar border area. However, with the influx of satellite internet devices such as SpaceX's Starlink, the effectiveness of these blockade measures is being threatened.
Starlink devices provide high-speed internet connections through portable antennas, requiring only power and alignment with the sky for stable connectivity. Andrew, the director of the International Justice Mission in Thailand, pointed out that the use of Starlink devices is becoming increasingly common in Myanmar's fraud parks. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also revealed that last year alone, Thai and Myanmar law enforcement agencies seized more than 80 illegally used Starlink terminals. Since Thailand and Myanmar have not approved the legal operation of Starlink, these devices are illegally held locally.
Although Thai authorities have noticed the problem, the ease of goods circulation under the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement poses a challenge to completely blocking the inflow of Starlink devices. Siriwit, the director of the Human Trafficking Crime Bureau of the Thai Ministry of Justice, stated that a large number of Starlink devices are being transshipped through Thailand to other Southeast Asian countries.
According to United Nations estimates, fraud parks in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos still trap hundreds of thousands of victims. In a joint crackdown in February 2025, about 7,000 victims were rescued, coming from 29 different countries, most of whom were innocently lured into the parks by human trafficking. Andrew noted that although internet cut-off actions are no longer as effective as before, raids and arrests remain important means to combat telecom fraud groups.
Miller, the coordinator for human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Southeast Asia at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasized that although criminal groups use satellite internet to hide their tracks, internet cut-off actions still have significant symbolic importance, demonstrating the Thai government's determination to combat transnational crime.
Meanwhile, Robertson, the director of the Asian Human Rights and Labor Advocacy Organization, criticized that Thailand's response to the fraud park issue is slow and border management is lax, making it a transit point for human trafficking and criminal groups. He bluntly stated that the Thai border forces provide some protection for the fraud parks to a certain extent, and the real driving force behind this crackdown is the pressure from the central government in Bangkok.
Facing challenges, the Thai government has promised to strengthen border enforcement and continue to promote joint crackdown operations to reduce the number of victims. Andrew optimistically stated that despite the new challenges posed by satellite internet, recent successful operations still provide valuable experience and momentum for future efforts to combat cross-border telecom fraud.
