According to an investigative report by KUM, a Chinese-run scam compound named UK666 is being expanded in the Kanota area, located north of Myawaddy in Karen State. The territory is controlled by the Karen National Army (KNA), led by Brigadier General Saw Chit Thu. Situated near the Moei (Thaungyin) River, the facility is operated by an individual named Yang Chao, with roughly 20 armed KNA personnel providing security. Since March of this year, operators have been transferring personnel from Myawaddy and KK Park to this remote site. Around 300 foreign nationals are currently trapped inside and forced to work, including about 20 Africans and a majority of Chinese citizens, primarily targeting victims in the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

According to escapees, conditions inside the compound amount to modern slavery. Detainees are forced to work 16 hours a day without any rest days. Those who fail to meet quotas face fines, floggings, forced squats, and food deprivation. Insubordination is met with severe beatings, and escapees say that when someone is beaten to death, the matter is settled by paying compensation. Individuals who suffer mental breakdowns are reportedly resold for 300,000 baht. In some instances, families paid ransoms of 600,000 baht only for the compound to refuse release, while others whose initial contracts expired were slapped with arbitrary fines of 2 million baht to keep them indefinitely detained.

The report highlights that while some older structures have visibly been demolished elsewhere, newly established compounds in dense areas like Kanota continue to expand. The compound relies on two alternating generators for electricity, with diesel fuel, construction materials, and internet connectivity smuggled in across the border from Thailand. As long as local armed groups provide land and military cover, these illicit hubs continue to function.

This trend suggests that scam networks may be adapting by moving away from conspicuous hubs into the deep woods. Curbing these operations will likely depend heavily on strict border enforcement regarding smuggled logistics and telecommunications, serving as a reminder for overseas job seekers to stay alert against high-paying offers in border zones.

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