HARARE- Zimbabwean authorities deported Chen Mo Yun, 44, to China last Wednesday for allegedly orchestrating the illegal cremation of a Chinese woman in Harare, following revelations from five previously deported accomplices who identified him as the operation’s mastermind.

Chinese officials requested Yun’s deportation after interrogating five Chinese nationals who were earlier convicted and deported for their role in the unauthorized cremation of Huang Tian Song.

The five men – Chen Ying, 44, Xia Wexing, 40, Guo Weilin, 32, Yan Qi, 36, and Wang Huasheng, 35 – each paid US$200 fines after being found guilty of illegally cremating Song’s remains in May.

Investigators discovered the group had obtained a burial order by falsely claiming they had permission from Song’s family members.

The case began when Song died under mysterious circumstances at Trauma Centre in Borrowdale, Harare, on May 22. The cause of her death remains undetermined.

“The investigation revealed that Yun had allegedly been running a mafia-style operation in Harare,” said a source close to the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing case.

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate why the group rushed to cremate Song’s body without proper authorization, raising concerns about potential criminal activities involving foreign nationals in Zimbabwe.

Chinese authorities are conducting their own investigation into the matter, according to official sources familiar with the case.

“We are working closely with Chinese officials to understand the full scope of this operation,” said a senior Zimbabwe immigration official who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

The deportation marks a significant development in Zimbabwe’s efforts to combat unauthorized activities by foreign nationals, while highlighting growing cooperation between Chinese and Zimbabwean authorities in criminal investigations.