What they did:
𖧹 According to court findings, the syndicate created “scam compounds” in the Kokang region, propped up by armed support and external financing, to run its operations.
𖧹 Their crimes included fraud, intentional injury, intentional homicide, illegal casino/gambling operations, telecom scams, drug trafficking and prostitution.
𖧹 The activities are said to have resulted in the deaths of Chinese nationals who resisted or tried to escape. One report noted that 14 Chinese citizens were killed and 6 injured.
Sentences handed out:
𖧹 Eleven leading members of the syndicate were sentenced to death.
𖧹 Five others received death sentences suspended for two years, which in China often means the sentence can later be commuted to life in prison if no further crime is committed.
𖧹 Eleven others got life imprisonment, and the remaining defendants received fixed-term prison sentences from 5 to 24 years plus fines, property confiscation or deportation.
Why this matters:
𖧹 The scale: Over US$1.4 billion in proceeds shows how big the illegal gambling/fraud business has grown across borders.
𖧹 The enforcement shift: It signals that law-enforcement in China is increasingly willing to target overseas syndicates and cross-border crime.
𖧹 The human cost: This isn’t just financial crime — people died, workers were coerced, and the operation exploited vulnerable individuals.
𖧹 Regional impact: For neighbouring countries (including Singapore), it shows how illegal gambling and scam operations can span menus of crimes (gambling, fraud, trafficking) and move across borders.
Disclaimer: "The legal process is based on the Chinese court’s verdict; the individuals are presumed innocent until all appeals are exhausted."