The National Unity Government (NUG) has declared its readiness to collaborate with neighboring countries in the region to combat online fraud syndicates and curb transnational crimes effectively.

This announcement was made during a press briefing held by NUG on January 21, 2025.

NUG’s Commitment to Fighting Fraud

At the press conference, U Kyaw Zaw, spokesperson for the NUG Presidential Office, stated: “We are prepared to join hands with neighboring and regional countries to protect the public from the harm caused by fraud syndicates and to take decisive action against perpetrators.”

The State of Online Fraud in Myanmar

Notorious hubs for online fraud and cyber scams—Shwe Kokko and Myawaddy—are currently under the control of the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), led by Major General Saw Chit Thu.

According to NUG, these regions have largely escaped the control of Myanmar’s military junta, prompting an urgent need for cooperation with ASEAN nations to tackle the issue. NUG has also accused the military junta of having financial ties to fraud networks, claiming that they tolerate and even support the criminal activities.

U Kyaw Zaw added: “The junta, under immense political and military pressure, is merely performing a superficial crackdown on fraud networks. However, they have no real intention of dismantling the criminal operations that are deeply embedded in their financial system.”

Challenges & International Cooperation

NUG pointed out that the junta’s political and military control is weakening, and the territory under its administration is shrinking.

On January 7, 2025, NUG’s Acting President, Duwa Lashi La, sent an official letter to the ASEAN Chair, reiterating that NUG is the legitimate government of Myanmar based on both legal and territorial grounds.

On January 20, 2025, NUG and the Karen National Union (KNU) issued a joint statement calling for neighboring countries—including China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand—to establish an effective coordination mechanism to share intelligence and enhance cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.

Regional Operations & International Summits 

On January 21, 2025, representatives from the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, China’s Ministry of Public Security, the Lao Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Defense, Myanmar’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the Royal Thai Police, and Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security convened a meeting in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, to assess the progress of Operation Zinyaw, a joint anti-fraud initiative.

Following the meeting, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement confirming that six nations, including the Myanmar military junta, will collaborate further in tackling cyber fraud syndicates.

Additionally, ASEAN member states reaffirmed their commitment to combating online fraud in the “Bangkok Digital Declaration” released on January 17, 2025.

The declaration emphasized that regional cooperation is essential to counter transnational cybercrime.

The War on Online Fraud

NUG reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling fraud networks with the support of ASEAN nations and international allies, ensuring that criminals are held accountable.

Through coordinated regional operations, NUG aims to protect victims and restore order in areas affected by large-scale fraud activities.

This bold initiative underscores the severe impact of cyber fraud on society and highlights the crucial role of regional and global cooperation in addressing the growing threat of transnational crime.