BEIJING: China executed 11 people on Thursday who were connected to criminal gangs operating scam compounds in Myanmar, including key members involved in telecom fraud operations, state media reported.
Read More: Myanmar demolishes 150 buildings in border scam crackdown
The fraudulent operations in Myanmar’s border regions have become part of a multibillion-dollar illicit industry, exploiting loopholes in lawless areas. These compounds are typically staffed by foreigners, including many Chinese nationals, with reports that some were trafficked and forced to participate in online scams.
Eleven members of the Ming family criminal syndicate in northern Myanmar have been executed. The syndicate was involved in gambling fraud exceeding 10 billion yuan and caused 14 deaths and multiple injuries. pic.twitter.com/qcisN6UKTL
— China Perspective (@China_Fact) January 29, 2026
Beijing has intensified cross-border cooperation with Southeast Asian nations to crack down on these fraud centres, resulting in the repatriation of thousands of individuals to China over the past years.
The 11 executed individuals were sentenced to death in September 2025 by a court in Wenzhou, in eastern China. Their crimes included intentional homicide, intentional injury, unlawful detention, fraud, and operating illegal casinos, according to Xinhua. The sentences were later ratified by the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing, which deemed the evidence “conclusive and sufficient,” covering crimes committed since 2015.
Among those executed were members of the notorious “Ming family criminal group,” whose actions reportedly caused the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to many others. Xinhua reported that the criminals’ close relatives were allowed to meet with them before the executions.
Read More: Scam centres in Southeast Asia on the rise despite crackdowns
China’s harsh response highlights its zero-tolerance approach to cross-border fraud, especially operations that harm Chinese nationals. Authorities continue to work with neighboring countries to prevent the establishment of new illegal compounds and curb the exploitation of trafficked individuals.