Myanmar Hands Over Three Chinese Warlords to Beijing Involved in Transnational Scams
Myanmar has extradited three notorious Chinese warlords, Bai Suocheng, Wei Chaoren, and Liu Zhengxiang, to Beijing. These figures, who led factions in Laukkaing, near the northeastern border of Myanmar and China, were infamous for orchestrating transnational scams involving the trafficking of thousands of foreign nationals.
The extradition occurred via a chartered flight that transported the three warlords along with seven others to China. This event marks a crucial episode in the unraveling downfall of the military-backed Chinese mafia in Myanmar, delivering another blow to the waning power of Myanmar's military regime.
The four families, including Liu Guoxi, who led the fourth family until his death in 2020, had dominated Laukkaing since 2009. Over the years, the region transformed into a hub of criminal activities, particularly in lucrative scam centers. The UN estimates that hundreds of thousands of individuals have been trafficked into these centers across Southeast Asia.
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security stated that the warlords were involved in "armed fraud gangs" that committed fraud crimes against Chinese citizens. These crimes included murder, assault, and illegal detention, contributing to China's unease along its border. In response, Beijing issued a public reward for their capture in December, designating them as "ring leaders."
The vulnerable state of Myanmar's army allowed China the opportunity to crackdown on the scam compounds in Laukkaing. So far, around 44,000 individuals suspected of involvement in the scam centers have been handed over to China from Myanmar. This extradition is being hailed as a "landmark achievement" by China.
Chinese-language TV channels aired footage showing Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (Swat) officers escorting the suspects down the plane in Kunming and into police vans. The warlords, with close ties to the military, had established extensive business networks in Myanmar, involving mining, energy, infrastructure, and casinos in countries like Cambodia.
Under their influence, Laukkaing transformed from a remote, impoverished town into a bustling casino hub with high-rise towers and seedy red-light districts. Initially catering to Chinese demand for gambling, Laukkaing's casinos became fronts for money laundering, trafficking, and sophisticated online fraud operations.
The region adopted a Wild West atmosphere, marked by occasional gun battles between rival scam centers and the ownership of exotic pets like lions and tigers by powerful individuals. The fall of these warlords signals a significant shift in the criminal landscape of Laukkaing and a blow to the criminal enterprises that flourished under their rule.
