China’s Ministry of Public Security said that 800 Chinese nationals engaged in gambling-related fraud in the Myawaddy region of Myanmar have been repatriated to China.
China has strengthened its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries in recent years to crack down on criminal syndicates engaging in gambling and telephone fraud in the region, most of which are run by Chinese nationals.
An operation between the Chinese government and the Philippines on 22 February saw more than 40 Chinese nationals engaged in offshore gambling in the Philippines repatriated.
In this more recent action, China entered into a three-way agreement with Thailand and Myanmar to take action against Chinese nationals involved in gaming fraud in the Myawaddy region of Myanmar.
The 800-plus Chinese nationals were repatriated to China via Thailand.
The Myawaddy region has developed a reputation as a hub for illegal activities, including cyber fraud and gaming-related scams as well as human trafficking and organ trafficking. “KK Park” in the southern region of Myawaddy is particularly infamous.
In March 2023, Chinese police launched a joint crackdown with law enforcement agencies from Myanmar and Thailand to focus on activities within this area.
On 30 January this year, Burmese police repatriated to China the 10 masterminds of criminal syndicates engaged in fraudulent activities in the region, signaling that some fraud syndicates in the area had been dismantled.
The Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China pointed out that as the crackdown continues, through the joint efforts and close collaboration of the three sides, some Chinese nationals from the gambling-related criminal parks in the Myawaddy region of Myanmar have offered to return to their home country voluntarily.
“The Chinese side will continue to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the countries concerned, continue to combat transnational wire fraud, Internet gambling and other criminal activities, and make every effort to protect the lives and property of the people, the Ministry said.
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