Military authorities say they have arrested 52 Chinese nationals and four Myanmar citizens in a raid on an alleged online scam operation in Mong Pan Township, southern Shan State. However, local residents have raised questions about how such a group was able to operate in the area.

According to an official statement, the arrests took place on April 24 at a compound located about 20 miles north of Mong Pan along the road to Kengtung. Authorities said buildings at the site had been constructed for online fraud activities.

Officials reported seizing equipment including computers, laptops, Starlink internet units, generators, and power supplies. Some devices were found burned, suggesting attempts to destroy evidence during the raid.

Local residents say the presence of a large, organized operation in a remote forest area raises concerns about oversight and control.

“That area is far from the Thai border, and movement is tightly controlled,” a Mong Pan resident said. “It’s hard to imagine they could set up there without support or protection from an armed group.”

The site lies along a route where multiple armed actors operate, including military forces and other groups active in southern Shan State. Residents say it would be difficult for outsiders to establish such a facility without connections.

“People in the town didn’t even know this place existed,” the resident added. “It’s not easy to stay in the forest like that without backing.”

While authorities described the raid as part of efforts to combat online fraud, some locals questioned whether the arrests signal a broader crackdown.

Residents noted that this is the first publicly reported case of its kind in Mong Pan, prompting speculation about why action was taken at this time.

“If there were a serious effort to stop these operations, they would have disappeared long ago,” a resident said.

The arrests come amid growing scrutiny of online scam networks operating across Myanmar, particularly in border regions.

Additional arrests have been reported in recent days, including 52 suspects in Tachileik on April 27 and another group of Chinese and Myanmar nationals in Muse on April 29, according to local sources.

International pressure has also increased. On April 24, the U.S. Department of State announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the disruption of major scam-linked money laundering networks operating in Myanmar.

Authorities said those arrested in Mong Pan will face legal action, but it remains unclear who organized or financed the operation, and whether further investigations will follow.

Residents say greater transparency is needed, particularly regarding how such operations are able to function in remote areas with limited oversight.