BEIJING: China has formally charged 39 individuals, including 16 Myanmar nationals, in connection with a criminal syndicate accused of engaging in multiple illegal activities, state-run media reported on Monday. The charges include murder, drug trafficking, and telecom fraud, signaling a significant enforcement action against cross-border criminal networks.

According to Anadolu Agency, the group is accused of a variety of serious offenses, including fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, operating casinos, drug trafficking, and organizing prostitution. The charges were filed in a local court in Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, marking a major step in China's ongoing effort to combat cybercrime.

Chinese authorities initiated a crackdown on cross-border cybercrime in 2023, resulting in Myanmar handing over more than 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to Chinese authorities. These crime syndicates have purportedly amassed millions of dollars through fraudulent activities, leading to significant financial losses and multiple fatalities among Chinese citizens.

The scale of the criminal operations is underscored by over 10,000 confirmed cases of telecom fraud attributed to the suspects, with damages amounting to millions of dollars, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The investigation continues as several thousand additional suspects linked to the syndicate are under scrutiny by procuratorates in Wenzhou and other regions across China.