China says ringleader in Myanmar telecom fraud committed suicide

The leader of a telecommunications fraud gang in Myanmar, Ming Xuechang, reportedly committed suicide while on the run from authorities. Chinese police had intensified efforts to crack down on scams targeting Chinese citizens, issuing a warrant for Ming and three other ringleaders, offering a cash reward of up to 500,000 yuan ($69,000). According to officials at the Chinese consulate in Kunming, Ming took his own life on Wednesday night "for fear of punishment" while being pursued in Myanmar. The crackdown on telecom scams has become a priority for China as incidents targeting its citizens have surged, and the country has been actively seeking cooperation from neighboring nations to address the issue.

Myanmar, grappling with internal strife, handed over three Chinese nationals accused of running scams to Chinese police. The syndicate led by Ming was involved in armed telecom fraud, including crimes such as murder, assault, and illegal imprisonment, according to Chinese authorities. China has been urging Myanmar's junta to take stronger action against scam centers where Chinese and other foreign nationals are often victims of human trafficking.

The crackdown on telecom fraud comes amid ongoing fighting between ethnic minority insurgent groups and Myanmar's military, which seized power in a coup in 2021. China has brought back thousands of suspected fraudsters from northern Myanmar, a region that shares a border with Yunnan province. The crackdown is part of a broader effort to combat cross-border crimes, maintain order in border areas, and address the surge in telecom scams affecting Chinese citizens.