China has executed four senior members of a Myanmar-based telecom fraud syndicate as authorities intensify a sweeping crackdown on cross-border scam networks, a Chinese court announced on Monday.
The executions, confirmed by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court, involved members of the so-called “Bai family criminal group”, whose operations were based in northern Myanmar’s Kokang region.
The announcement marks the second time in less than a week that China has disclosed executions linked to overseas telecom fraud rings.
According to the court, the four individuals were convicted of multiple offences, including fraud, intentional homicide, kidnapping, extortion, intentional injury and forced prostitution.
One of the convicts, Bai Yingcang, was also found guilty of colluding in the production and sale of about 11 tonnes of methamphetamine.
The court said the group operated large-scale scam compounds that targeted victims online, with their activities resulting in the deaths of six Chinese citizens and injuries to many others.
The four were sentenced to death in November and were recently executed.
A fifth suspect, Bai Suocheng, who was alleged to be the ringleader of the syndicate and had also been sentenced to death, died of illness after the verdict, the court added.
The executions follow a similar announcement last week by a court in the eastern city of Wenzhou, which said it had executed 11 people connected to the “Ming family criminal group”, another major telecom fraud network.
Telecom and online fraud syndicates operating across Southeast Asia — particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar’s poorly governed border regions — have become notorious for luring victims into fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency investment schemes.
While initially focused on Chinese-speaking targets, the networks have expanded to operate in multiple languages, stealing billions of dollars globally.
The syndicates are known to employ thousands of foreign workers, some recruited voluntarily and others trafficked and forced to carry out scams under harsh conditions.
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China has stepped up cooperation with regional governments in recent years, leading to the repatriation of thousands of suspects to face trial in China.
Commenting on the latest executions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing had been working closely with Myanmar and other countries to combat telecom fraud.
“These efforts have produced significant results in protecting people’s lives and property,” Lin said at a regular press briefing on Monday, adding that China would further intensify its campaign against cross-border scam syndicates.