Casinos and Scams: Inside Myanmar's Controversial City of Shwe Kokko

The rising city, portrayed as a luxurious vacation destination, is marred by illegal operations that threaten both local safety and international tourism.

In the lush surroundings of Myanmar's Karen State, a bizarre city, known as Shwe Kokko, has emerged within the last eight years, transforming from a quiet region into a hub of high-rises, casinos, and reported scams. Located near the border with Thailand, the construction of Shwe Kokko — which translates to "Golden Raintree" — has drawn the ire of authorities due to its connections to fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking.

She Zhijiang, the founder behind this controversial city, is currently awaiting extradition to China after being jailed in Bangkok. Despite facing serious allegations, his company Yatai attempts to promote Shwe Kokko as a luxurious resort city aimed at Chinese tourists and wealthy visitors.

However, the visionary dream of Shwe Kokko has clashed with its stark reality. The region has long been notorious for cyber scams, with many residents trapped in a grim existence of forced labor. Many of the workers come from across Southeast Asia and beyond, drawn by opportunistic promises only to find themselves trapped in a compelling scam economy.

Access to Shwe Kokko has been tightly controlled, especially in the wake of Myanmar's 2021 military coup. Getting there entails navigating numerous checkpoints and the risk of armed conflict. The area boasts a series of high-rises that seem to reflect an illusion of prosperity; however, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Passengers and reporters who have dared to visit have reported limited views into the inner workings of Shwe Kokko. A few promotional tours have been organized by Yatai, yet they leave a lingering impression that the mainstream operations of scams remain elusive.

Witnesses describe the insidious practices still taking place within the city. Scammers—some coerced—now lure particularly vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, into fraudulent investments such as cryptocurrency schemes, all while residing in luxurious settings.

Despite claims claiming to eliminate scams from their operations, local reports and former workers reveal that these illicit activities persevere, with complex networks of deception woven into the city's fabric. Shwe Kokko remains a city at an intersection of ambition, fraud, and survival amidst a backdrop of civil unrest and instability.

Legitimacy and sustainability for businesses like Yatai seem dubious, facing growing criticism as symbolic of exploitation in war-torn regions. With multiple challenges ahead, Shwe Kokko stands as a testament to the darker side of rapid development, where ambition often collides with the erosion of human rights and systemic corruption.