The US offensive against scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia may not be extensive enough to stem the growth of the scam centers, reports Asia Sentinel.
“The US is using standard law enforcement procedures for criminal activities that require a much more creative approach. Taking out top leaders won’t solve this problem, more junior members step in to take control,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told Asia Sentinel. “Scam centers proliferate in areas controlled by armed groups that have traditionally been allied with the Myanmar military. More support should be given to ethnic administrations in border areas which are trying to stamp out these centers.”
Myanmar is blacklisted by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, because of the risk of money laundering and lack of financial controls, he added. “More should be done to investigate if it how the banking sector in Myanmar is being used to launder scam center money.”