Sources told DVB that Mote Thone, a senior leader of the pro-military Border Guard Force (BGF) in Karen State, has fled the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy further inland to the state capital Hpa-an following an arrest warrant reportedly issued for him by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on July 27.
A source in Karen State told DVB on the condition of anonymity that Mote Thone has relocated his 300 BGF troops from Myawaddy Township to the foot of Mount Mizai in Kyarinn village, 24 miles (38 km) north of Hpa-An and 81 miles (130 km) west of Myawaddy.
The Karen Information Center (KIC) has reported that Mote Thone is being sought by the Thai authorities over his alleged role in cross-border human trafficking to supply cyber scam operations in Myawaddy, located across the Thaungyin (Moei) River from Mae Sot, Thailand.
Each individual charge he could face carries a statutory minimum prison sentence of three years under Thai human trafficking legislation. The legal arrest warrant would remain active and enforceable until Aug. 16, 2037.
A political analyst in Karen State told DVB that Mote Thone’s influence and stature in the BGF has “dwindled” since the arrest warrant was reportedly issued by Thailand.
In January, Mote Thone defied orders from BGF leader Chit Thu to surrender his weapons and integrate his troops into the Karen National Army, which led to a split within the BGF after it was rebranded by Chit Thu.
Despite orders to halt assistance to regime forces inside the BGF, Mote Thone reportedly continues to assist the Myanmar military in combat operations against resistance forces in southern Myawaddy.
Mote Thone, along with BGF leader Chit Thu and another named Tin Win, have been sanctioned by the European Union since October 2024 for alleged involvement in cyber scam operations in Shwe Kokko, located 16 miles (26 km) north of Myawaddy and 91 miles (148 km) east of Hpa-An.
Chit Thu was sanctioned in 2023 by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Switzerland for human trafficking and forced labor in casino zones located in Shwe Kokko.
In 2025, Thai authorities requested arrest warrants for Mote Thone, Chit Thu and Tin Win following statements from rescued international human trafficking victims. But to date, DSI has only reportedly issued this arrest warrant for Mote Thone.
