China sentences three members of Myanmar scam clan to death

A court in Quanzhou in China's eastern Fujian province has sentenced three members of the so-called Wei clan from northern Myanmar to death, including its leader. Three others received life sentences, and 55 accomplices were given prison terms ranging from three years and three months to 24 years, AFP and the South China Morning Post reported. In total, 61 members were convicted. The clan is one of the notorious "four families" of northern Myanmar, according to the SCMP.

The court said the group engaged in telecom fraud, drug trafficking, illegal casinos and organized prostitution, and murdered at least two Chinese citizens. State broadcaster CCTV called the clan the "most violent criminal force in northern Myanmar" and said it ran 14 large scam compounds in the Kokang region. Its operations generated more than 12.2 billion yuan, about $1.8 billion.