Fourteen top leaders of a massive Chinese call center scam syndicate, along with 80 workers, have been handed over to Chinese authorities in a major cross-border operation. The transfer took place on August 20, 2025, at the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sot, marking one of the most significant crackdowns on cross-border cybercrime in the region.
According to officials, Mr. Chen Jianfeng, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau from China’s Ministry of Public Security, personally traveled to Myawaddy in Myanmar’s Kayin State to oversee the handover. He was joined by other Chinese ministry representatives and embassy officials.
Myanmar police formally processed and recorded the details of the 94 suspects before transferring them to the Chinese team. The group was then escorted by bus across the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge into Mae Sot, Tak Province. After clearing Thai border controls, they boarded two chartered planes provided by China to return home for prosecution.
The detainees included 14 high-ranking scam operators, each reportedly controlling assets worth more than 100 million baht. These leaders ran large-scale call center operations, forcing their workers to carry out fraudulent schemes targeting victims across Asia. Workers who failed to meet financial quotas were allegedly punished, abused, or assaulted.
Myanmar officials revealed that the original group numbered 100 individuals, but six were deemed too ill to travel, with some reportedly suffering from tuberculosis. The 14 ringleaders had been detained for several months by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), who had been waiting for Chinese authorities to formally take custody.
The Karen BGF also reported attempts by the suspects’ families to bribe their way to freedom. Despite offers of large payments, the BGF refused to release the ringleaders, ensuring that they faced extradition.
The operation highlights growing cooperation between China and Myanmar in tackling cybercrime and cross-border scams, which have become a major regional issue in recent years. Scam syndicates operating from remote parts of Myanmar have been linked to billions of dollars in fraud, often targeting victims through online romance scams, fake investments, and phishing operations.
Each of the 14 leaders is believed to have orchestrated complex fraud schemes with hundreds of workers under their control. By seizing them and freezing their assets, authorities hope to dismantle a significant branch of the wider scam network.
The extradition at Mae Sot represents both a symbolic and practical victory for Chinese law enforcement. With the suspects now back in China, prosecutors are expected to pursue charges carrying heavy penalties, including long prison sentences.
For Myanmar, the handover underscores its willingness to cooperate with neighboring countries against transnational crime. For Thailand, Mae Sot once again played a pivotal role as a gateway for regional law enforcement collaboration.
This high-profile case signals a continued crackdown on scam syndicates operating in Southeast Asia, where cyber fraud and forced labor in call centers remain pressing concerns for governments and victims alike.
