31,000 Telecom Fraud Suspects Handed Over to China in Myanmar Crackdown

Joint operation targets online scams, with China expressing readiness to tackle cross-border crime and support border stability amid insurgent attacks.

• Myanmar has handed over 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China as part of a joint crackdown on online scams that began in September.
• The suspects include 63 'financiers' and ringleaders of crime syndicates that have defrauded Chinese citizens of large amounts of money.
• More than 100,000 people engage in telecom fraud each day in at least 1,000 scam centres in Myanmar, according to Chinese state media.
• The Myanmar ringleader of a gang committed suicide last week while evading Myanmar authorities. Three members of his gang were later handed over to Chinese police.
• China has expressed its readiness to work with Myanmar on tackling cross-border crime, including online gambling, and supports Myanmar in maintaining stability on their common border as Myanmar's junta battles insurgents.

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South China Morning Post CNA Reuters