Chinese Court Tries 21 in Myanmar Criminal Syndicate Case

A Chinese court in Shenzhen has tried 21 members of a transnational criminal group accused of running illegal casinos, fraud schemes, forced prostitution, and drug production in northern Myanmar. Authorities allege the group, led by Gay Saw Chain and Bay Hin Chin, built 41 fortified compounds in Myanmar’s Kokang region since 2009, providing armed protection for illicit businesses. Prosecutors claim their operations caused the deaths of six Chinese citizens and injuries to many others.

The syndicate’s financial activities were staggering, with gambling and fraud-related proceeds reportedly exceeding CNY20 billion (US$2.8 billion). State media reports describe how the gang lured victims into fraudulent gambling setups and then trapped them in cycles of debt, intimidation, and exploitation. This mirrors wider concerns about “scam compounds” along Southeast Asia’s border zones, where human trafficking and online gambling fraud have proliferated in recent years.

The trial reflects Beijing’s growing crackdown on cross-border crime that endangers Chinese nationals. China has been working with Myanmar and neighboring countries to dismantle criminal enclaves in border regions, particularly in Kokang and Shwe Kokko, which are notorious for scams targeting Chinese citizens. The Shenzhen court has yet to deliver its verdict, but prosecutors are pushing for accountability on 12 charges, including fraud, homicide, and intentional injury.