China Executes 11 Individuals for Major Scam Operations
In a significant legal development, Chinese authorities executed 11 individuals found guilty of orchestrating a criminal enterprise responsible for the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and generating over $1 billion through illicit scam and gambling activities. This announcement was made by the Wenzhou city Intermediate People’s Court on Thursday.
In September, the court sentenced the group, which included prominent figures such as Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, believed to be leaders of the operations. Other key individuals identified by the court included Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang. These individuals were allegedly pivotal in the operations.
Despite filing an appeal, the group’s efforts were dismissed in November. However, the details of the court’s decision were not disclosed publicly until the recent announcement.
The crackdown on this illegal syndicate began in November 2023. Chinese authorities applied pressure on border regions shared with Myanmar to intensify efforts against scams. This move was part of a broader initiative to tackle illegal activities in the region.
Scam operations have escalated to an industrial scale in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. These operations often involve both trafficked labor and volunteer participants who execute digital scams targeting global victims. This surge in criminal activity has led to increased international scrutiny, with countries such as China and the U.S. urging regional authorities to take decisive action.
