China Executes 11 in Major Crackdown on Myanmar Scam Networks

China has executed 11 individuals who were convicted of playing central roles in large-scale scam and criminal operations linked to Myanmar’s border regions, according to reports from state media and international news outlets. The executions, which took place on January 29, 2026, reflect Beijing’s intensified campaign against transnational fraud networks that have posed significant challenges to law enforcement and public security.

The 11 people executed were convicted in September 2025 by a court in Wenzhou, eastern China, of a string of serious offenses including intentional homicide, intentional injury, unlawful detention, fraud and operating illegal casinos. China’s Supreme People’s Court later upheld the death sentences, concluding that there was “conclusive and sufficient” evidence of crimes committed over many years.

State media identified some of those executed as key figures in a criminal organisation often described as the Ming family criminal group, which operated scam centres in remote borderlands in northeastern Myanmar. These centres became notorious for hosting large online fraud schemes and related illegal activities, and were linked to the deaths of at least 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to others.

Criminal activities tied to these networks expanded over years, with fraud operations often involving coercion and forced labour. Testimonies from freed scam centre workers indicate that many individuals — including foreigners and trafficked victims — were compelled to participate in online romance, investment and telecom fraud schemes that extracted billions of dollars from victims globally.

The regions where these scam compounds flourished, particularly near the Myanmar–China border, have long been difficult to govern due to limited state control and the presence of armed groups. Chinese authorities have stepped up cooperation with Southeast Asian neighbours — including Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia — to dismantle the networks and improve transnational policing efforts. Thousands of suspects have been repatriated to China to face charges in recent years.

Analysts say the executions send a strong signal of China’s hardline approach to transnational crime and underscore growing international concern over organised fraud operations that span multiple countries. Despite the crackdown, experts warn that many scam networks have relocated or adapted, highlighting the complex challenge of combating widespread cybercrime and criminal syndicates across borders.