Clear message sent to gangs hiding in Myanmar

The fresh warrants issued by the Ministry of Public Security against four suspected leaders of a criminal gang operating in Kokang, northern Myanmar, should send a clear message to the telecom fraudsters that the days of their scams are numbered.

It looks like time is up for the four that have been duping Chinese people for years by either taking away their lives' savings through telephone or WeChat frauds, or by trafficking some individuals to their "criminal gardens" to teach them how to cheat more Chinese nationals.

Following better law enforcement, telecom fraud groups are fast disappearing in China lately. However, these fraud groups have found a safe haven in northern Myanmar where they even get access to international banking systems, enabling them to transfer their loot to overseas accounts, which the Chinese police cannot freeze.

It is just as bad for Myanmar, as the existence of such "criminal gardens" on its soil is bad for its image. Besides, these gangs are also a threat to northern Myanmar residents.

Chinese people are so disturbed by these telecom frauds that a movie called No More Bets grossed 3.65 billion yuan ($500.5 million) at the box office this year, ranking the 11th largest in China's movie history.

The only people happy with the situation in northern Myanmar might be those who think that by joining gangs and moving there they can escape China's laws. Instead, many of these recruits reportedly end up being exploited and treated like slaves by the gang lords there.

The four wanted suspects — Ming Xuechang, 69; Ming Guoping, 42; Ming Julan, 42; and Ming Zhenzhen, 27 — all hold Chinese ID cards, which means they should face jurisdiction in China. The fact that they are duping Chinese people is enough reason to bring them to justice and put a stop to their illegal activities.