Telecom fraud suspects are handed over to China Photo: CCTV

China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Tuesday announced that 150 Chinese nationals suspected of cross-border telecom fraud have been transferred from Myanmar to China. The suspects had been found operating as part of a telecom fraud hub, pretending to be military personnel and luring victims into fake wealth management scams through social media. 

Since 2023, the MPS has deepened law enforcement cooperation with Myanmar police to crack down on telecom and online fraud, with some 49,000 Chinese suspects handed over to Chinese authorities, according to the MPS.

The intensified crackdown has forced some fraudsters to relocate to remote areas like Tachileik, Myanmar.

In a recent development in the ongoing crackdown on telecom fraud in northern Myanmar, the MPS said they have successfully dismantled 10 telecom fraud dens in Tachileik and apprehended 150 Chinese suspects involved in cross-border telecom fraud schemes. Among the suspects, 14 were wanted fugitives.

This operation marks another milestone in efforts to combat the rampant telecom fraud activities that have plagued the region in recent years.

The suspects and related evidence have been transferred to Chinese authorities through a port in the Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. 

The MPS has deployed authorities from Southwest China's Guizhou Province to bring the suspects back for further investigation and prosecution.

The MPS reiterated their commitment to maintaining a tough stance against telecom fraud and will continue to strengthen cooperation with international partners to combat these crimes effectively. The crackdown on cross-border telecom fraud aims to protect the property and legal rights of the people and deter criminals from exploiting vulnerable individuals through deceptive schemes.

Global Times