China has executed four individuals convicted of orchestrating scam and gambling operations from Myanmar, which resulted in the deaths of six Chinese citizens. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court announced the executions in a statement, though it did not specify the date they were carried out. This follows the recent execution of 11 other individuals connected to similar crimes in Myanmar.
In November 2022, the Shenzhen court sentenced five people, including members of the notorious Bai family, who were accused of managing a network of scam centres and illegal casinos. Among those sentenced was the group leader, Bai Suocheng, who died of illness following his conviction. The criminal enterprise had established industrial parks in Myanmar’s Kokang region, from which they allegedly ran extensive gambling and telecom scams involving kidnappings, extortion, forced prostitution, and drug trafficking.
The court found that the group defrauded victims of over 29 billion yuan (approximately $4 billion) and caused significant harm to numerous individuals, including the fatalities of six Chinese citizens. The court described their actions as “exceptionally heinous,” noting the severe societal threat posed by their operations.
Initially, the defendants appealed their sentences, but their appeals were dismissed by the Guangdong Provincial High People’s Court. This series of executions is part of a larger wave of actions by Beijing to combat scam operations proliferating across Southeast Asia, notably in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
Scam parks have emerged as a major concern, with a mix of trafficked and willing laborers conducting digital scams that target victims globally, including many from China. Authorities in the region are under increasing international pressure from nations such as China and the United States to effectively address the rising tide of organized crime linked to these operations.
The ongoing crackdown highlights the seriousness with which the Chinese government views the threat of these scams, as they not only harm individuals but also undermine public trust and safety within society.
