China Executes 11 Members of Myanmar-Based Online Scam Syndicate, Officials Cite Severe Transnational Crimes
en01.web.id – China. The Chinese government on Thursday (January 29, 2026) carried out the execution of 11 core members of a transnational criminal syndicate that operated large-scale online fraud and illegal casino networks from border areas in Myanmar, according to official judicial statements. The executions followed final court rulings that found the defendants guilty of multiple serious crimes.
In an official statement released on January 29, 2026, Li Hua, Spokesperson for the Supreme People’s Court of China, said the convicts were responsible for telecommunications fraud, intentional homicide, illegal detention, and severe abuse.
“The crimes committed were extremely serious, involved cruel methods, and caused grave harm to society. The sentences were imposed strictly in accordance with the law,” Li Hua said.
The case originated between 2022 and 2023, when Chinese authorities recorded a sharp increase in reports of citizens disappearing after accepting overseas job offers. Subsequent investigations traced the disappearances to fraud compounds located in northern Myanmar, which were controlled by organized criminal groups targeting victims in China and other Asian countries.
According to prosecutors, the defendants acted as key organizers and leaders of the syndicate, overseeing recruitment, confinement, and daily operations of scam centers. Victims were lured with promises of high-paying jobs, transported illegally to Myanmar, and then forced to conduct online scams. Those who failed to meet fraud quotas were subjected to physical violence, prolonged detention, and torture, with several victims reportedly dying as a result.
Zhang Wei, Chief Prosecutor of the Wenzhou People’s Procuratorate, said during a court briefing in September 2025 that investigators uncovered extensive evidence, including survivor testimonies, financial records, and digital materials documenting abuse.
“This was not merely an economic crime. It was a highly organized criminal operation that deprived individuals of their freedom and, in some cases, their lives,” Zhang said.
The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang Province sentenced the 11 defendants to death in September 2025, citing the extreme severity of their actions. Appeals and petitions for leniency were later rejected after a mandatory review by the Supreme People’s Court, which approved the executions in January 2026.
The executions were carried out in China on January 29, 2026, in accordance with national legal procedures. Authorities did not disclose the exact execution site, citing standard judicial protocol.
Meanwhile, Xu Datong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of China, said in a separate statement issued on January 29, 2026, that the case demonstrated China’s firm stance against cross-border crime.
“China will continue to strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation to combat online fraud and protect the safety of its citizens,” Xu said.
Chinese authorities emphasized that the case reflects the government’s broader campaign against transnational criminal networks, particularly those operating scam centers in Southeast Asia, which Beijing views as a major threat to public security and regional stability.
Tim Redaksi
(rd/ks/jk)