China sentences three Myanmar scam gang members to death over US$1.8bil fraud empire
BEIJING: A Chinese court sentenced three members of a criminal gang to death on Tuesday for operating a network of brutal scam centres in Myanmar’s Kokang region on the border with China, while jailing dozens more.
A Chinese court has sentenced three members of a criminal gang to death for their role in a vast scam network operating in Myanmar's Kokang region, which netted over US$1.8 billion. The Wei family criminal gang was involved in various crimes, including drug trafficking, prostitution, illegal casinos, and telecommunications fraud.
The gang operated 14 large-scale scam compounds and lured Chinese nationals with false promises of high wages. In addition to the three death sentences, 55 other gang members received prison terms ranging from 24 years to three years and three months. Analysts describe the Wei clan as one of the four major crime families in the region, known for their violent activities and control over political, military, and business sectors.
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