China sentences three to death in Myanmar scam compounds case
Chinese courts have sentenced three leaders of a Myanmar-based criminal network to death over illegal casinos, telecommunications fraud and other crimes linked to scam compounds in the Kokang region.
China has sentenced three senior members of the Wei family criminal network to death in a case involving Myanmar scam compounds, illegal gambling and violent crime, marking another major development in Beijing’s crackdown on cross-border criminal operations.
The first-instance verdicts were announced on October 13 by courts in Fujian province. Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei and Liao Jingfang received death sentences, while three other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment. Another 55 defendants received prison terms ranging from three years and three months to 24 years, according to court reporting.
The courts linked more than RMB12.2 billion ($1.7 billion) to the network’s gambling and fraud operations, underscoring the scale of the criminal activities associated with the case.
Myanmar scam compounds case involves casinos and fraud
The Wei family network operated in Myanmar’s Kokang region, near the Chinese border, using its local influence and armed capabilities to establish criminal compounds in Laukkaing, the region’s principal town.
According to the court findings reported by Chinese state media, the group began establishing these operations in 2019. It provided armed protection to financiers and other operators who established businesses inside the compounds.
The activities linked to the network extended beyond illegal gambling. Authorities identified telecommunications and online fraud, extortion, organised prostitution, drug trafficking and illegal border-crossing activities among the offences associated with the criminal operation.
The combination of casino operations and large-scale fraud placed the case at the intersection of gambling enforcement and the wider campaign against organised cybercrime in Southeast Asia.
Three death sentences and 58 other prison terms
The courts imposed the death penalty on Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei and Liao Jingfang for their involvement in the criminal network and its offences.
Wei Huairen was identified as a leading figure in the group. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that he ran a casino in Laukkaing and controlled a local border guard unit associated with Myanmar’s military. Myanmar police transferred him to China in January 2024.
Chen Dawei, another senior figure, was also linked to the network’s armed activities. Court findings cited in reporting attributed the deaths of Chinese citizens to the group and separately linked Chen’s use of armed forces under his control to two additional killings.
Three defendants received life sentences, while the remaining 55 were handed fixed prison terms of up to 24 years. The rulings demonstrate the breadth of the prosecution, which covered dozens of people connected to the wider operation.
The verdicts were first-instance judgments. Further legal proceedings, including any applicable appeals and the required review of death sentences under Chinese law, remain relevant to the final legal outcome.
RMB12.2 billion linked to gambling and fraud
The financial scale of the case is a central element of the court findings. Funds associated with the group’s gambling and fraud operations exceeded RMB12.2 billion, equivalent to approximately $1.7 billion based on the reported figure.
The amount should be understood as funds linked to the gambling and fraud activities, rather than automatically treated as net profit from casino operations alone.
The distinction matters when assessing the role of illegal casinos within broader criminal networks. Gambling facilities can operate alongside fraud, extortion and other illicit activities, while armed protection and control over local territory can help criminal operators maintain their businesses.
The Wei case illustrates how authorities have pursued networks that combine gambling-related activity with telecommunications fraud and other serious offences.
China expands its crackdown on Myanmar scam compounds
The Wei family is among the criminal networks associated with Kokang that Chinese authorities have targeted in their campaign against cross-border fraud. The group is commonly identified as one of the region’s so-called four major families.
The latest verdicts follow earlier proceedings involving other Myanmar-linked criminal networks. In January 2026, China executed 11 members of the Ming family criminal group. Four members of the Bai family were executed in February, according to reports cited by AgBrief.
These cases form part of Beijing’s wider effort to dismantle criminal operations near its border, particularly networks associated with online scams, illegal detention, violence and illicit gambling.
Myanmar’s conflict-affected border regions have provided space for criminal enterprises to operate with the support of local armed groups. Scam compounds have also attracted international attention because some people recruited to work in them have reportedly been trafficked, detained or coerced into carrying out online fraud.
The cases highlight the challenges involved in tackling cross-border criminal networks whose operations span multiple jurisdictions and combine physical infrastructure with digital financial crime.
Implications for illegal casino enforcement
For the casino industry, the case reinforces the distinction between regulated gambling businesses and illegal casino operations embedded in organised criminal networks.
Authorities’ findings link the Wei family’s activities to illegal casinos as well as telecommunications fraud, extortion and other offences. The scale of the associated funds also demonstrates why gambling-related financial flows can become a focus of broader criminal investigations.
The case does not, by itself, establish any findings against licensed casino operators elsewhere in the region. Its significance lies in the criminal network identified by the courts and the enforcement action taken against its members.
As China continues to target Myanmar-linked scam operations, further legal proceedings and enforcement actions will help determine how much of the region’s cross-border criminal infrastructure can be dismantled.
The October 13 verdicts represent a significant judicial step against the Wei family network, but the broader challenge of combating illegal gambling and scam compounds across Southeast Asia remains unresolved.
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Sources
Asia Gaming Brief
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