Global Crime Syndicates Cast a Dark Shadow Over Myanmar's Sacred Mount Mulayit
At the foothills of Mount Mulayit, one of Karen State’s most iconic natural landmarks, an insidious darkness is spreading.
It is not the seasonal mist that traditionally drifts across its peaks, but the creeping expansion of global criminal networks that have quietly taken root in the jungle below.
Rising more than 6,000 feet above sea level in the eastern Dawna Range, Mount Mulayit has long drawn pilgrims and tourists across Myanmar and abroad, lured by its lush green slopes, cool mountain air, and tranquil atmosphere.
In times of peace, the area holds immense potential as a premier eco-tourism destination.
However, since 2025, a darker force has infiltrated these peaceful foothills: illegal cross-border telecom scam operations, known locally as zhapian syndicates.
Their arrival is transforming this sacred sanctuary into a new frontier for organized crime.
Caption :Mount Mulayit, a prominent landmark on the eastern side of the Dawna Range in Karen State.
Driven into the Jungle: The Evolving Threat
Previously, zhapian syndicates in Karen State operated in plain sight—running sprawling, casino-style compounds with neon lights near border towns like Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, adjacent to Thailand.
Following international pressure and countermeasures by the Thai government—including targeted cuts to electricity and internet supplies—these criminal networks have retreated into remote, mountainous terrain to establish hidden bases.
Local sources report that at least three scam compounds now operate around the foothills of Mount Mulayit.
Another three have been established near Warmeehta Village, close to the headquarters of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), an ethnic armed group currently maintaining a ceasefire with Myanmar's military junta.
Crucially, these newly established compounds are no longer permanent concrete structures.
To evade law enforcement and adapt to ongoing armed conflicts, operators now utilize mobile, easily dismantled facilities.
Air-conditioned shipping containers and temporary tents serve as operational hubs, allowing syndicates to quickly vanish and relocate if authorities or rival armed groups draw near.
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