China Executes Three for Leading Brutal Scam Operations in Myanmar
China sentences three to death for leading brutal scam centers in Myanmar, with over $1.8 billion in fraud uncovered.
POLICY WIRE — Beijing, China — A Chinese court has handed down the death penalty to three individuals involved in a violent scam operation based in Myanmar’s Kokang region, marking a significant escalation in cross-border law enforcement efforts.
The verdict was issued by the Quanzhou Intermediate People’s Court, which found Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei, and Liao Jingfang guilty of orchestrating a criminal network that included telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, and the murder of at least two Chinese citizens. The gang’s activities generated over 12.2 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) in illicit proceeds.
Alongside the three death sentences, another three members received life imprisonment, while 55 others were given prison terms ranging from three years to 24 years. Analysts have identified the Wei family as one of the so-called “four families” controlling major crime syndicates in Kokang. The U.N. has warned that cyber-scam operations across Southeast Asia and beyond are generating tens of billions of dollars annually, with many victims targeted through fake job offers and online romance schemes.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
