Chinese courts conclude trials of two criminal gangs from northern Myanmar, 16 sentenced to death

BEIJING -- Chinese courts have concluded the trials of two major criminal groups based in northern Myanmar involved in telecom and online fraud, the Supreme People's Court said Thursday.

At a press conference held by the SPC, it was revealed that by the end of 2025, courts across the country had concluded first-instance trials of over 27,000 cases related to telecom fraud operations in northern Myanmar, with more than 41,000 returned suspects sentenced.

Notably, among the trials of the so-called "four major families" criminal gangs -- which had drawn widespread domestic and international attention -- those of the Ming and Bai groups have completed all judicial proceedings. A total of 39 individuals received sentences of life imprisonment or heavier penalties, including 16 sentenced to death. The two cross-border armed criminal rings have been completely dismantled, delivering a heavy blow to criminal elements both at home and abroad.

According to the SPC, Chinese courts have been imposing stringent, efficient, and comprehensive punishments on telecom and online fraud crimes to effectively safeguard the personal and property safety of the people. From 2021 to 2025, courts nationwide concluded over 159,000 first-instance cases of telecom and online fraud, sentencing more than 338,000 defendants.

Notably, while the number of concluded cases and sentenced defendants saw significant year-on-year increases of 48.4 percent and 38.6 percent in 2023, and 29.4 percent and 26.7 percent in 2024, the growth rate slowed markedly in 2025, with increases of only 1.2 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. This positive trend fully demonstrates the effectiveness of judicial authorities' efforts in combating such crimes.