13.10.2026 20:30
In China, the ringleader of the criminal syndicate called the “Wei family,” which operates in Myanmar, Wei Huairen, and two of its members, Chen Davey and Liao Jingfang, were sentenced to death for various crimes, including internet and telephone fraud. The court stated that the syndicate had run money laundering operations exceeding 12.2 billion yuan since 2019 and was responsible for the deaths of 4 Chinese citizens.
In China, 3 members of the criminal syndicate called the “Wei family,” which operates in Myanmar and is stated to have been involved in many crimes, especially internet and telephone fraud, were sentenced to death. It was reported that the syndicate had directed money laundering flows exceeding $1.7 billion since 2019, and the defendants were held responsible for the deaths of 4 Chinese citizens.
SYNDICATE INVOLVED IN MANY CRIMES
The Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province and the Nan'an City People's Court issued death sentences for the ringleader of the criminal syndicate, Wei Huairen, his nephew Chen Dawei, and his accomplice Liao Qingfang.
In the court ruling, it was stated that the syndicate led by Wei Huairen, a former border guard militia commander, used its political and military influence in the Kokang region of Shan State in Myanmar to establish numerous criminal centers.
It was recorded that in these centers internet and telephone fraud, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking activities were carried out, and the syndicate had directed money laundering flows exceeding 12.2 billion yuan (approximately $1.7 billion) since 2019.
SENTENCES ISSUED FOR 58 DEFENDANTS
In the ruling, 3 defendants held responsible for the deaths of 4 Chinese citizens were sentenced to death. Three other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while 55 defendants received prison sentences ranging from 39 months to 24 years.
OPERATION AGAINST FRAUD NETWORKS IN MYANMAR
The border region between China's Yunnan province and Myanmar's Shan State has become the activity center of telephone and internet fraud networks targeting Chinese citizens in recent years.
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security launched operations against these networks in July 2023. Within the scope of the operations, by December 2024, more than 53,000 people from Myanmar were repatriated to China to be tried.
Previously, 11 members of the criminal syndicate called the “Ming family” and 5 members of the syndicate called the “Bai family,” operating in the same region, had been sentenced to death, and it was reported that these sentences were executed in January 2026.