China executes 11 linked to Myanmar scam operations

China has executed 11 members of a Myanmar-based family crime syndicate responsible for large-scale telecom fraud, illegal gambling, and the deaths of Chinese citizens, authorities confirmed Thursday. The executions follow approval from the Supreme People’s Court after all appeals were rejected.

A court spokesperson said: “The judgment is final. The defendants’ crimes were extremely serious, and the evidence against them is conclusive. The execution is carried out in accordance with the law to protect public safety and uphold justice.”

The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court , which carried out the executions, said in an official statement that the defendants were sentenced to death for intentional homicide, illegal detention, fraud, and running illegal gambling operations . The court described the evidence against them as “conclusive and sufficient” , noting that the crimes had extremely serious circumstances and consequences , justifying the death sentences.

The group, led by Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen , operated multiple fortified scam compounds in northern Myanmar , particularly in the Kokang region. The compounds, often called scam parks, relied on trafficked and coerced workers to carry out online fraud targeting victims in China and abroad. Operations included fake investment schemes, online gambling, and romance scams.

Authorities reported that the syndicate was directly responsible for the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and the abuse of numerous workers, and that its operations generated more than 10 billion yuan (over USD 1 billion) in illicit revenue . Other key members, including Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang, oversaw enforcement, recruitment, and day-to-day scam operations.

The defendants were detained in November 2023 following coordinated action by Chinese authorities and local forces in Myanmar’s border regions. Before the executions, the court confirmed that close relatives were permitted to meet the condemned, in line with Chinese legal procedures.

The case highlights China’s ongoing campaign against cross-border criminal networks in Southeast Asia. Authorities are also pressing Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos to crack down on similar fraud and gambling compounds, repatriate victims, and dismantle organized cybercrime operations.