More than 57,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in cross-border telecom fraud have been arrested in a sweeping joint law enforcement operation by Chinese and Myanmar police, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Wednesday.
The operation delivered a heavy blow to the four notorious criminal clans based in Myanmar’s Kokang region, effectively dismantling their long-standing criminal networks, according to an MPS statement.
All cases involving the so-called “four criminal clans” — including the Wei and Liu families — have now entered judicial proceedings, marking a major milestone in China’s fight against cross-border telecom fraud.
Criminal Groups Brought to Justice
In August 2023, the MPS directed police in Quanzhou and Longyan, both in East China’s Fujian Province, to investigate the Wei and Liu crime syndicates operating in northern Myanmar. On October 1, 2023, nine key suspects — including ringleaders Wei Qingtao and Liu Zhengqi — were captured near China’s southwestern Yunnan border.
Following months of investigation, Chinese authorities issued wanted notices in December 2023 for several high-profile fugitives, including Wei Huairen and Liu Zhengxiang.
On January 30, 2024, under the China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, Myanmar police transferred several detained suspects — among them Wei Huairen, Liu Zhengxiang, and Liu Zhengmao — to Chinese authorities.
Chinese police also conducted four high-risk missions into northern Myanmar to recover victims’ remains and gather key physical and documentary evidence. More than 1,000 police officers from Fujian traveled across 28 provinces to collect testimonies and evidence from telecom-fraud victims, the MPS said.
Massive Criminal Operations Uncovered
Investigations revealed that since 2009, the Wei criminal syndicate, led by Wei Huairen and Wei Qingtao, had leveraged family influence in local political, military, and economic spheres to establish 31 telecom-fraud parks in Kokang.
These parks attracted operators of online fraud schemes, who paid site rents, commissions, and “security fees” to the Wei group. The syndicate also ran casinos, prostitution rings, and drug operations — raking in illicit profits from multiple criminal enterprises.
Authorities said the Wei clan is suspected of crimes including fraud, murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, and organizing prostitution. Their activities reportedly caused the deaths of eight Chinese nationals and involved more than 5 billion yuan (US$702 million) in fraud-related funds and over 9 billion yuan in gambling-related funds.
The Liu Clan’s Expanding Empire
Since 2018, the Liu criminal clan, led by Liu Zhengxiang and Liu Zhengqi, developed 28 telecom-fraud parks through the “Fully Light” group. The clan partnered with online scam operators by offering premises, network services, and armed protection, while engaging in violent control and intimidation tactics.
The Liu group also ran casinos and sex-entertainment venues and engaged in prostitution, gambling, and drug trafficking. According to police, the group is suspected of fraud, extortion, illegal detention, and organizing illegal border crossings.
The Liu clan’s operations reportedly involved 2.6 billion yuan in fraud funds and 8 billion yuan in gambling proceeds. They also amassed 17 million yuan through nude-chat extortion and 16 million yuan in illicit gains from prostitution-related crimes.
A Major Victory Against Cross-Border Crime
The MPS said the successful crackdown underscores the strength of China-Myanmar cooperation in combating transnational crime and protecting Chinese citizens from telecom fraud.
Authorities vowed to continue pursuing fugitives and dismantling criminal networks that threaten public security and cross-border stability.
