However, since 2025, a darker force has infiltrated these peaceful foothills: illegal cross-border telecom scam operations, known locally as zhapian syndicates. Local sources report that at least three scam compounds now operate around the foothills of Mount Mulayit. According to a June 2026 report by the Thailand-based Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance (CSNHTV), more than 5,300 victims remain trapped in scam compounds along Myanmar’s borderlands. Once celebrated for its pristine tranquility, the eastern Dawna Range and the foothills of Mount Mulayit are now overshadowed by transnational crime and the complicity of local armed actors. While Thai media report ongoing joint efforts between Bangkok and Beijing to target borderland scam syndicates, whether these measures will effectively disperse the dark fog hanging over Mount Mulayit remains to be seen.