HANGZHOU - China on Thursday executed 11 members of gangs operating in northern Myanmar, including key figures in telecom fraud rings.

The 11 were first sentenced to death in September 2025 by a court in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province in eastern China, for crimes including intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, and operating gambling establishments.

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They appealed the verdict, but the appeal was rejected in November 2025 by the Higher People's Court of Zhejiang Province, which upheld the original judgment and submitted the case to the Supreme People's Court (SPC) for review as required by law.

The SPC later approved the death sentences. Upon review, the top court confirmed that since 2015, these criminals had established multiple operational bases in Myanmar to engage in telecom fraud, operate illegal gambling dens, and commit other crimes.

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According to the SPC, the funds involved in fraud and gambling exceeded 10 billion yuan (about $1.4 billion). The gangs also intentionally murdered, assaulted, and illegally detained people involved in fraud, resulting in the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and causing injuries to others.

The executions were carried out by the Wenzhou court after obtaining the SPC's approval.