China Sentences Scam Gang Leaders to Death Over Myanmar Fraud

A Chinese court sentenced three members of the Wei family criminal gang to death for running brutal scam centers in Myanmar's Kokang region near China, while dozens of others received prison terms. The ruling followed a broader China-led campaign against cross-border fraud networks.

Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court said Tuesday that Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei, and Liao Jingfang were sentenced to death for crimes linked to the gang, including fraud operations, drug trafficking, prostitution activities, and murders of at least two Chinese citizens. The court said the group generated more than 12.2 billion yuan ($1.8 billion).

The court identified Wei Huairen as one of the gang's leaders and said he was convicted of several crimes including murder. Three other members received life sentences, while 55 people were given prison terms ranging from 24 years to three years and three months.

CCTV described the Wei family as one of the criminal groups operating in Kokang and said the group controlled 14 large-scale scam compounds. It reported that victims' remains were discovered during investigations, including people found with restraints and gunshot wounds.

China has increased cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to combat scam networks that the United Nations says generate tens of billions of dollars annually. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said such operations have expanded beyond Myanmar into regions including South America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Pacific islands.

Chinese and Myanmar police also carried out joint operations in the Muse region after intelligence gathering and coordination efforts. The operation completed a broader crackdown covering Kokang, Wa State, Shan State Special Region-4, and Muse.

"We on the Chinese side have firmly focused on the fact that combating criminal activity is a shared responsibility of both the Chinese and Myanmar police forces, and we have engaged with them on this premise," said Zhao Nanfang, then head of the criminal investigation corps of the Yunnan Provincial Public Security Department.

Chinese police said they used evidence and case analysis to identify locations and participants involved in scam compounds in Muse. The cooperation involved discussions between officials from both countries before the joint operation.

"Who ran the area, who were the financiers and key members, who provided protection, roughly how many people were inside -- we've got all these straight," said Geng Bang, then deputy head of the criminal investigation corps of the Yunnan Provincial Public Security Department.

Authorities said Myanmar's military verified many suspected sites after Chinese investigators provided detailed information about the locations and operations. The joint effort led to arrests during the first Muse operation in late March and early April 2024.

"Myanmar's military carried out disguised reconnaissance and verified the sites on the ground. Except for a very few locations where people had moved away over time, they later confirmed the rest -- these were indeed compounds or parks running telecom frauds," said Zhang Jun, then head of the telecom and online fraud investigation division of the Criminal Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Public Security.

Chinese officials said the Muse operation was intended to strengthen enforcement cooperation along the border and reduce fraud activities affecting both countries. Earlier actions also targeted other criminal networks operating in northern Myanmar.

"We aimed to achieve a 'dynamic zero-case' goal regarding the telecom fraud activities affecting our border areas. We wanted to demonstrate our determination and stance, showcase our concrete measures, and put forward a strategy for joint China-Myanmar crackdowns," said Zhao Nanfang, then head of the criminal investigation corps of the Yunnan Provincial Public Security Department.