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BEIJING: China has executed four members of a criminal gang accused of running online fraud operations from neighbouring Myanmar, a court in the southern city of Shenzhen said on Monday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The four Chinese nationals were sentenced in November for intentional homicide, telecoms and online fraud, kidnapping and drug trafficking, the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court said in a statement.

A fifth defendant, who had also been sentenced to death, died from illness before the sentence could be carried out, the court said.

Appeals filed by the remaining defendants were rejected in December.

The executions mark the latest in a series of death sentences carried out against members of gangs operating from Myanmar.

A court in the eastern city of Wenzhou executed 11 people last week in a related case.

The court said the gang had set up gambling casinos and operated scam centres in compounds it built in northern Myanmar.

Six Chinese nationals were killed, and others were injured at the sites, according to the ruling.

Authorities said the group generated more than 29 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) through gambling and fraud.

The gang leader was also convicted of involvement in the production and trafficking of 11 tonnes of methamphetamine.

The court said the death sentences reflected the severity of the crimes.

The fraud and kidnapping cases have drawn widespread attention in China.

On the social media platform Weibo, many users voiced support for the executions.

Victims were often lured abroad and held against their will, forced to carry out phone and online scams from so-called scam centres.