Justice for Myanmar (JFM) has revealed that the electricity consumption of a cyber scam compound near Myawaddy, known as KK Park, exceeds that of the entire Karen State capital, Hpa-an. The compound, now restructured into KK Park 1 and KK Park 2, is leased by Chinese criminal syndicates from the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), which operates under Myanmar military junta control.
Although construction began in 2020, major development accelerated after the 2021 military coup, with over 20 new buildings completed between February and December 2024. Satellite imagery shows that nighttime illumination from both KK Park areas increased dramatically from mid-2022. JFM states that such extensive construction was only possible due to massive electrical power supply.
According to data from the military-controlled Ministry of Electric Power, power transmission to Karen State has significantly increased since the 2021 coup. This indicates that after Thailand restricted cross-border electricity sales, the military junta increased power supply to these scam compounds and profited from the sales. While Myanmar’s overall power consumption decreased by 10 percent between 2019 and 2022, power supply to Karen State nearly tripled from 20 megawatts to 58 megawatts.
Despite this increased power supply from the national grid, the bright lights are concentrated around the scam compound areas in Myawaddy, while areas inhabited by local residents, including the state capital Hpa-an, have become darker. In February 2025, Thailand cut off electricity and fuel supply to Myanmar border areas housing cyber scam operations due to international pressure, including from China. However, JFM argues that temporary power cuts alone cannot solve the problem without addressing the root causes of cyber scam operations in Myanmar.
