Chinese courts in Fujian province sentenced 61 members of a family-operated criminal syndicate based in northern Myanmar for their involvement in multiple crimes, including those leading to the deaths of four Chinese nationals. The Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court and Nan'an court delivered the verdicts on Tuesday, convicting the group led by Wai San of seven offenses, among them intentional homicide and fraud.
Sentences vary among the defendants: three individuals received the death penalty, three were sentenced to life imprisonment, and the remaining 55 were given prison terms ranging from just over three years to 24 years. Additional penalties such as fines, property confiscation, and deportation were also imposed based on each defendant's role and the severity of their crimes.
According to court findings, since 2019, Wai San and his associates exploited their authority in the Kokang region of northern Myanmar to operate multiple compounds, supported by financiers and armed groups. These compounds facilitated a range of illicit activities including telecom fraud targeting Chinese citizens, illegal border crossings, prostitution, casino operations, drug trafficking, and extortion. The overall illicit gains from these activities reportedly exceeded 12.2 billion yuan (approximately $1.82 billion).
The syndicate worked in conjunction with telecom fraud gangs within the compounds, and reportedly resorted to lethal violence against individuals who opposed their control. This collaboration resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals. Additionally, an armed faction led by one of Wai San’s associates was linked to further murders causing the deaths of two more Chinese citizens.
This case is part of a broader crackdown by Chinese authorities on telecom fraud and related cross-border crimes. In recent months, similar cases have resulted in severe sentences. For instance, in September, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province sentenced 11 members of another syndicate based in northern Myanmar, including leaders Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, to death for crimes that caused the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and injuries to six others. That group had also established an armed faction engaged in gambling and fraud activities, amassing illicit proceeds exceeding 10 billion yuan. These defendants were executed earlier this year following approval by the Supreme People's Court.
In a related case heard in November 2025, a Shenzhen court in Guangdong province sentenced five members of a syndicate led by Bay Saw Chain and Bay Yin Chin to death. This group was found guilty of leveraging their influence and armed support in northern Myanmar to create 41 compounds used for telecom fraud and other criminal acts. Their operations resulted in the deaths of six Chinese nationals and caused injuries to several others. Bay Saw Chain died of illness before execution, while the remaining four were executed in February.
Authorities continue to investigate and prosecute other families and groups involved in telecom fraud and associated criminal enterprises in northern Myanmar, indicating an ongoing effort to curb these cross-border criminal networks.