The fight against human trafficking and pig slaughter continues.
Myanmar's law enforcement agencies handed over 10 members of organized cyber fraud groups to their Chinese counterparts. Among the detainees are the leaders of three well-known criminal clans.
Such measures were a response to the demand of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, which in December published a list of wanted criminals associated with the ruling military junta in Myanmar.
Recall that since the summer of 2023, China has persistently demanded that the authorities of the neighboring country take tough measures against the numerous enclaves of cyber scammers operating in the border areas. The reason was a wave of fraud using the scheme of "pig butchering", the victims of which were citizens of the People's Republic of China. Criminals recruited victims through the Internet, ingratiated themselves with them, and then stole their funds under the pretext of profitable investments.
Fraudulent enclaves operating in Myanmar's border areas have relied on the use of forced labor for people brought there illegally from neighboring countries.
In October last year, a coalition of rebels launched a military operation in the Kokang region on the border with China, aiming to eliminate hotbeds of cybercrime. They managed to capture significant territories, including the" criminal capital " of Laukkain. However, in early February, China achieved a truce.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Security announced the detention of Bai Suocheng, the former head of the Kokang region, his son and daughter, as well as the leaders of two other influential groups, Wei Chaoren and Liu Zhenxiang. In addition, Liu Zhengmao and Xu Laofa, the leaders of another fraudulent clan, were arrested, along with four of their accomplices.
The Chinese agency called the transfer of the wanted persons "an outstanding achievement" in relations between the two countries. Since the beginning of the operation, about 44,000 suspected telecommunications fraudsters have been deported from northern Myanmar, including 171 individuals who provided funding for illegal operations.
However, experts warn that the suppression of criminal activity in one region can only help to move it to other areas. So, according to reports, the syndicate leaders, feeling the pressure in Kokan, have already relocated to the southern regions of Shan and Karen states, including the city of Shwe Kokko, known for its criminal activity. There, they established cooperation with another influential paramilitary group, the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army), which controls neighboring territories.
Myanmar's law enforcement agencies handed over 10 members of organized cyber fraud groups to their Chinese counterparts. Among the detainees are the leaders of three well-known criminal clans.
Such measures were a response to the demand of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, which in December published a list of wanted criminals associated with the ruling military junta in Myanmar.
Recall that since the summer of 2023, China has persistently demanded that the authorities of the neighboring country take tough measures against the numerous enclaves of cyber scammers operating in the border areas. The reason was a wave of fraud using the scheme of "pig butchering", the victims of which were citizens of the People's Republic of China. Criminals recruited victims through the Internet, ingratiated themselves with them, and then stole their funds under the pretext of profitable investments.
Fraudulent enclaves operating in Myanmar's border areas have relied on the use of forced labor for people brought there illegally from neighboring countries.
In October last year, a coalition of rebels launched a military operation in the Kokang region on the border with China, aiming to eliminate hotbeds of cybercrime. They managed to capture significant territories, including the" criminal capital " of Laukkain. However, in early February, China achieved a truce.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Security announced the detention of Bai Suocheng, the former head of the Kokang region, his son and daughter, as well as the leaders of two other influential groups, Wei Chaoren and Liu Zhenxiang. In addition, Liu Zhengmao and Xu Laofa, the leaders of another fraudulent clan, were arrested, along with four of their accomplices.
The Chinese agency called the transfer of the wanted persons "an outstanding achievement" in relations between the two countries. Since the beginning of the operation, about 44,000 suspected telecommunications fraudsters have been deported from northern Myanmar, including 171 individuals who provided funding for illegal operations.
However, experts warn that the suppression of criminal activity in one region can only help to move it to other areas. So, according to reports, the syndicate leaders, feeling the pressure in Kokan, have already relocated to the southern regions of Shan and Karen states, including the city of Shwe Kokko, known for its criminal activity. There, they established cooperation with another influential paramilitary group, the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army), which controls neighboring territories.
