Thai police are stepping up efforts to screen more than 1,000 foreigners who have fled from scam compounds and illegal casinos in Myanmar’s Myawaddy township following a raid by the Myanmar military on KK Park, one of the biggest scam compounds on the border.
Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, deputy national police chief, chaired a meeting on Saturday to assess the situation in Tak province and outline operational guidelines for agencies handling the influx. He later visited the Mae Sot Border Checkpoint 2 to inspect the screening process for the latest arrivals.
According to Pol Gen Thatchai, 1,233 people – both Thais and foreigners – have fled across the the Moei River into Mae Sot after the recent military raid on KK Park. Of these, 124 have completed Thailand’s national referral mechanism (NRM) screening, and two were identified as victims of human trafficking. The victims are now under state protection and rehabilitation while authorities coordinate their repatriation or legal action.
Among the total, 25 are Thai nationals, while foreigners from 28 countries make up the rest. Indian nationals represent the largest group, and the Indian embassy has already sent officials to coordinate food assistance.
However, Ethiopian nationals remain a challenge, Pol Gen Thatchai said, as there is no Ethiopian diplomatic mission in Thailand or nearby countries, making repatriation coordination difficult. The full screening process is expected to take about 10 days, after which authorities will classify victims and proceed under Thai law.
On Saturday night, three loud explosions were heard from KK Park, one of Myanmar’s notorious scam centres, in Myawaddy directly opposite Mae Ku village in Mae Sot. Thick smoke and fire were seen rising from one of the buildings in an area controlled by the Karen National Army (formerly the Karen Border Guard Force).
Local residents said they saw drones with green lights flying above the complex shortly before the blasts, followed by flashes and plumes of smoke visible from the Thai side. The explosions appeared similar to those reported two days earlier, though the source of the attack remains unknown.