World Business Report Thousands leave Myanmar after scam hubs raid
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Nov 17, 2025 
Erin West, Founder and President of Operation Shamrock and former deputy district attorney, sheds light on the harrowing realities of scam centers and human trafficking in Southeast Asia. She explains how 'pig butchering' crypto scams operate, trapping many workers as victims themselves. The podcast also explores military involvement in Myanmar, questioning if they're profiting from these networks. West emphasizes the need for international cooperation and sanctions to combat these issues, highlighting the dire situation for displaced workers.
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Mass Evacuation In Shwe Koku
- Thousands of scam workers have been evacuated in Shwe Koku as Myanmar military raids compound buildings.
- The operation displaced thousands and created panic, revealing the scale of the regional scam industry.
Money Motive Behind Raids
- Scam centres across Southeast Asia generate tens of billions yearly and employ many coerced workers.
- Sources suggest Myanmar's military aims to control more of those proceeds, implying economic motives for raids.
How Pig Butchering Scams Work
- Erin West explains how "pig butchering" scams groom victims via texts and fake crypto gains.
- She recounts how victims are led to invest, see fabricated profits, then lose everything.