Saw Chit Thu, a leader of the Karen National Army (KNA) and known as the "King of Myawaddy," appeared before the camera like an innocent child, spreading his hands in frustration at the Thai police's accusations.
Watching this man, the actual ruler of eastern Myanmar, defend himself in front of the camera, suddenly reminded me of the infamous Golden Triangle drug lord Khun Sa, who once proclaimed, "I am just a national liberator."
Denying Allegations Despite Overwhelming Evidence
For years, Saw Chit Thu has been repeatedly accused of being the key figure behind the telecom fraud syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar. These operations reportedly exploit trafficked victims from around the world, generating billions of dollars in illicit profits. Every time such accusations arise, Saw Chit Thu strongly denies them.
However, as Thai authorities moved to issue an arrest warrant against him, he suddenly ordered the release of detained victims in his controlled territories and called for a halt to fraudulent activities. Currently, over 7,000 individuals remain stranded in Myawaddy, awaiting repatriation.
In a recent news interview, Saw Chit Thu claimed that his forces could no longer afford the nearly one million Thai baht per day required to feed and house those waiting to be deported from the scam compounds. He urged the respective countries to take back their citizens as soon as possible.
The Plight of the Trapped Individuals
According to Malaysians who have managed to escape or contact the outside world, conditions inside these compounds are dire. Hundreds of people are forced to share a single toilet and a single power socket, making it nearly impossible for them to regularly contact their family members back home. Limited access to electricity means that even those who manage to charge their phones cannot use them freely, further isolating them from the outside world.
An individual from Yatai reported that Thailand has yet to allow the crossing of the river, exacerbating the already dire food supply problem. With supplies dwindling, the situation for those trapped inside the compounds grows increasingly desperate.
The Scale of Saw Chit Thu's Criminal Empire
Despite the increasing crackdown on telecom fraud operations, Myawaddy’s Asia-Pacific City—a 20-square-kilometer scam hub—continues to operate around the clock. Workers there are confined behind iron fences, forced to make 15 hours of scam calls daily, using spoofed base stations to send millions of fraudulent messages to China.
Saw Chit Thu’s name is clearly listed as the landlord on the land lease agreements for these scam compounds. He has openly admitted, "I only rent out the property. What tenants do inside is none of my concern."
However, his control extends far beyond a few buildings. From telecom fraud and online gambling to human trafficking and organ trading, the entire illicit industry in eastern Myanmar operates under his armed protection. What he calls "rent" is actually a 30% profit cut from scam syndicates, disguised as "protection fees."
In last year's major case involving the Hengan Group, police discovered that the group transferred $2 million per month to accounts linked to the Karen Border Guard Force.
From Jungle Fighter to Warlord Godfather