Cross-Border Crackdown Roots Out Fraud Syndicate
In January 2024, authorities of the Chinese mainland indicted 21 core members of a telecom fraud network based in northern Myanmar. The suspects face charges including fraud, illegal gambling operations, intentional homicide and drug manufacturing, targeting civilians in the Chinese mainland.
Data from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) links the group to more than 31,000 scam cases, with losses exceeding 10.6 billion yuan (around $1.48 billion) and six confirmed civilian deaths. Investigators also uncovered roughly 11 tonnes of illicit drugs produced and trafficked by the syndicate.
Since 2015, syndicate leader Bay Saw Chain built over 41 large compounds across northern Myanmar as hubs for telecom scams and online casinos. Armed guards enforced strict control, using violence and even murder to maintain operations.
In November 2023, the MPS formed a special task force and issued public wanted notices in December. Under the China–Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, Myanmar handed over Bay Saw Chain and associate Bay Yin Chin in January 2024. To date, 36 key suspects have been taken into custody.
Joint missions saw Chinese mainland police deployed to northern Myanmar five times, supported by local authorities, while over 1,000 officers gathered testimony from fraud victims nationwide. Together, combined operations apprehended more than 57,000 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud.
Experts say this case underscores the impact of cross-border collaboration against sophisticated crime rings and sends a clear warning to transnational fraud networks.
Reference(s):
China prosecutes 21 key members for telecom fraud in northern Myanmar
cgtn.com
