70 Kannadigas were treated as cyber slaves in Myanmar’s cybercrime hub

Bengaluru

Seventy Kannadigas who escaped from the notorious KK-Park — a major cyber scam hub in souteastern Myanmar — were treated as cyber slaves, a source in the Karnataka Home Department revealed to blrpost.com.

The group, along with 430 others from various parts of India, fled the facility in October during a Myanmar military crackdown on cyber fraud operations. They crossed the border into Mae Sot, Thailand, where Thai authorities detained them. The Indian government later dispatched aircraft to repatriate the victims last week.

The Karnataka government has sent personnel from the Cyber Command to Delhi to interact with the Kannadigas. Officials have gathered preliminary details on the park’s functioning, cybercrime activities, and the victims’ living conditions.

“All 500 Indians, including 70 from our state, were held in treacherous conditions inside the park, which is surrounded by high compound walls. They were enslaved and forced to work against their will,” the source said.

According to investigators, KK-Park operatives lured workers from developing countries with promises of lucrative tech jobs in Thailand. Once they arrived, recruits were transported to KK-Park — one of the world’s largest cyber scam hubs.

Only after entering the compound did the victims realise the true nature of their work. They were kept under tight surveillance, provided only basic food and shelter, and paid meagre wages. The operatives forced them to execute large-scale online frauds, including digital arrests, investment scams, and OTP thefts.

The workers were barred from leaving the compound or taking breaks, as it posed a risk to the cyber syndicate. “They unknowingly walked straight into the trap of the cyber mafia,” the source added.

Cyber Command officials plan to conduct detailed debriefings once the victims recover from trauma. Many remain in shock, making long interactions difficult. Authorities expect the testimonies to reveal crucial information about KK-Park’s network and operations — helping formulate stronger strategies to combat international cybercrime.