The United Wa State Army (UWSA) arrested around 1,000 people involved in scamming operations in Tangyan Township, Shan State and handed over 762 who were Chinese nationals to the Chinese police, despite having previously protected the scammers.

The UWSA confirmed that 762 Chinese telecom scammers were handed over to Chinese police via the China-Myanmar border crossing in Pangwaun Township, Shan State, on 19 November 2024.

Using the Burmese term for scammers, Zhapian, U Nyi Rang, a spokesperson for the UWSA, said: “It’s true. We arrested around 1,000 Zhapian operators in Tangyan Township, where the UWSA is operating. Among them, 762 Chinese nationals were handed over to China via the border gate.”

The UWSA also handed over 76 Starlink internet devices, around 1,500 mobile phones, computers, and related equipment seized from the scammers to Chinese police.

The UWSA also arrested 300 Myanmar nationals involved in the scamming. U Nyi Rang said they will be released after the necessary interrogations have been completed.

Tangyan Township is on the west bank of the Thanlwin (Salween) River. The UWSA already controlled the east bank across the Thanlwin River from Tangyan Township, but on 10 July 2024 the UWSA moved over 2,000 troops across the Thanlwin River and took over Tangyan Township after negotiations with the junta.

This was the first time the UWSA had taken any action against Tangyan Township-based telecom scamming gangs.

Previously, on 14 October, SHAN reported that soldiers from UWSA Brigades 318 and 713 were protecting the scam centres being set up in Tangyan Township. It is not known why the UWSA’s attitude to the scam centres changed, but pressure from China, the country most targeted by Myanmar-based scam centres, may have had something to do with it. Of all the Myanmar ethnic armed organisations the UWSA is the one with the closest links to China.

A 35-year-old Tangyan Township resident said: “Previously, Zhapian gangs were not present in Tangyan [Township]. However, after the clashes in Laukkai last year, the Zhapian operators moved to Tangyan [Township]. These scamming and gambling operations are allowed to run in the forest areas of Tangyan [Township] with the permission of the Wa (UWSA). These gangs mostly employ local youths, and outsiders have heavily restricted access to the areas where they operate.”

The scammers have set up scam centres in rubber plantations previously owned by the Manpang militia group near Panglawng Village, in Nawnglai Village Tract, west of Tangyan Township.

Locals have alleged that scam centre gangs are exploiting job shortages caused by the military conflict. They are recruiting local young people into the scam centres or as support staff such as cooks. They are luring them with high wages, such as offering cooks a basic salary of about 10,000 Chinese Yuan (approximately 9 million MMK at current rates).