Myanmar returns three fugitives to China

Myanmar law enforcement authorities on Wednesday night handed over three fugitives to China who were wanted for smuggling and trafficking offenses involving 2,000 kilograms of drugs, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The three are Zhang Anlong, a 42-year-old man from Yunmeng county, Hubei province; Ma Wenxiang, a 37-year-old man from Pu’er, Yunnan province; and Yang Jinmei, a 45-year-old woman from Lincang, Yunnan.

Investigations revealed that the three were all key members of an international drug trafficking network and had been fugitives abroad for many years, actively smuggling and trafficking drugs into China. They were involved in multiple major drug cases investigated by police in provinces such as Hunan, Hubei and Yunnan, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with the total amount of drugs involved exceeding 2,000 kilograms.

On Dec 28, 2023, the Ministry of Public Security had offered rewards for the capture of 10 major drug trafficking fugitives — including the three who were returned to China on Wednesday — after thoroughly conducting investigations and gathering evidence.

In July, the anti-drug department of Myanmar cooperated with its Chinese counterpart to facilitate the capture of the fugitives. Yang was captured in Yangon, Myanmar, on July 9, and Zhang and Ma were caught in Lashio, Myanmar, on July 13.

Their capture marked another significant achievement in international law enforcement cooperation in the field of drug control between China and Myanmar, the ministry said.

As of now, six of the 10 most wanted drug trafficking fugitives in northern Myanmar have been captured and brought back China for trial.

The ministry noted that since 2020, public security authorities across the country have been cooperating with their counterparts in other nations to pursue fugitives who have been smuggling drugs into China from abroad, especially those in the northern region of Myanmar. This has resulted in the apprehension of a large number of drug-related fugitives, sending a strong message to drug trafficking networks operating overseas, it said.

Police have called drug traffickers to surrender themselves immediately to receive more lenient treatment. The ministry has also pledged to further strengthen international law enforcement cooperation and intensify efforts to capture fugitives overseas.