The sprawling, fortified compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border have long operated in a legal gray zone, shielded by armed militias and powered by satellite internet. But in October 2025, SpaceX took an unprecedented step: it remotely disabled more than 2,500 Starlink terminals that had become the digital backbone of a transnational criminal network responsible for human trafficking, forced labor, and cyber-fraud on an industrial scale. “We are committed to ensuring the service remains a force for good and sustains trust worldwide,” said Lauren Dreyer, head of Starlink business operations, announcing the move. This marked the first major action by a tech company to directly disrupt satellite-enabled organized crime—a watershed moment in the global fight against cyber-fraud.
The Criminal Architects and Their Fortresses
At the heart of this shadow economy are Chinese syndicates, working in partnership with Myanmar’s armed groups. Wan Kuok-koi, known as “Broken Tooth,” and She Zhijiang are among the key figures. Through entities like Hong Kong’s Dongmei Investment Group and Yatai International Holdings Group, they have transformed remote farmland into fortified cities such as KK Park and Yatai New City—each a self-contained hub for scam operations, complete with hospitals, hotels, and watchtowers. The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned both individuals and their companies, highlighting the global reach of these networks. Local militias, including the Karen National Army, provide security and profit from the operations, creating a symbiotic relationship that has proven resilient to law enforcement.
The Human Cost: Trafficking and Exploitation on a Global Scale
The scale of human suffering is staggering. United Nations reports from August 2023 estimate that 120,000 people are trapped in scam compounds in Myanmar, with another 100,000 in Cambodia. Victims—many from Africa, China, India, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia—are lured by false job offers, then subjected to 17-hour workdays, beatings, and starvation. Their passports are confiscated; escape requires paying exorbitant “contract termination fees.” Amy Miller, a researcher who has interviewed survivors, explained on NPR in March 2025: “Once you’re at the border, escape is nearly impossible.” The operations blend human trafficking with cybercrime, generating billions annually while leaving a trail of shattered lives.
American Losses and the Rise of “Pig Butchering” Scams
Americans have not been spared. In 2024 alone, U.S. citizens lost $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based scams—a 66% increase from the previous year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted in October 2025 that total U.S. losses now exceed $16.6 billion. Individual stories are harrowing: Erika DeMask of Illinois lost her life savings, sold her home, and faced total financial ruin. The so-called “pig butchering” scams—where criminals build trust over weeks on social media or dating apps before coaxing victims into fake cryptocurrency investments—are especially devastating. The FBI estimates these scams alone stole nearly $4 billion from Americans in 2023, with the average victim losing $160,000.
A Multi-National Crackdown: Sanctions, Raids, and Tech Accountability
The international response has escalated dramatically. The U.S. and U.K. launched the largest coordinated sanctions campaign to date in October 2025, targeting 146 individuals and entities across Myanmar and Cambodia. Thailand cut electricity, internet, and fuel to border areas in February 2025, but criminal networks quickly adapted, deploying Starlink terminals to maintain operations. Myanmar’s military raided KK Park in October 2025, arresting over 2,000 people and confiscating Starlink equipment, but the problem persists: at least 30 other compounds remain active, and expansion continues. “KK Park is a small portion of the number of compounds in the world that are doing this dirty business,” emphasized Erin West, a cybercrime expert, on October 23, 2025.
SpaceX’s intervention was enabled by advanced detection: using unique device IDs and geofencing, the company identified and disabled terminals linked to criminal activity. Law enforcement agencies complemented this with satellite imagery, mobile tracking, and blockchain analysis to map the networks. The crackdown has set a new precedent for tech accountability, with companies now under pressure to monitor and act against misuse of their platforms.
Cryptocurrency, Recruitment, and the Challenges Ahead
Cryptocurrency has become the lifeblood of these operations, enabling rapid, cross-border money laundering. Deutsche Welle traced millions of dollars from victims to crypto wallets controlled by KK Park, then to overseas Chinese businesspeople. The decentralized nature of crypto makes recovery nearly impossible, despite advances in blockchain forensics.
Recruitment is equally sophisticated. Victims are targeted through legitimate-looking job ads on Facebook, Telegram, and WeChat, flown to Bangkok, and then transported to Myanmar, often unaware they have crossed an international border. Once inside, they are trapped in a cycle of exploitation, with little hope of escape.
The FBI urges vigilance: verify identities with reverse-image searches, never send cryptocurrency to someone you’ve only met online, and be wary of too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities. Businesses, too, must audit satellite communications and apply rigorous due diligence for international transactions.
Implications and the Road Forward
SpaceX’s action has opened a new chapter in the fight against satellite-enabled crime, but the challenges are immense. Criminal networks are adaptable, relocating and rebuilding with alarming speed. Militia protection and corruption ensure that tens of thousands remain trapped. NGOs and experts stress that only systematic, cross-border intervention addressing root causes—poverty, lack of opportunity, and weak governance—can break the cycle.
The stakes are global. As Lauren Dreyer of Starlink put it, the company’s mission is to ensure its technology is “a force for good.” This episode has shown that tech providers can no longer remain passive in the face of criminal misuse. Regulatory frameworks are expected to evolve, and the industry is now on notice: satellite internet, like all powerful tools, must be wielded with responsibility. For victims, advocates, and law enforcement, the hope is that this crackdown marks the beginning of a sustained, coordinated effort to dismantle one of the world’s most ruthless criminal enterprises—and to restore some measure of justice to those who have suffered in its shadow.