China has carried out the execution of eleven members of a notorious mafia family that controlled extensive cyber-scam operations along its border with Myanmar, according to official state media reports. The individuals, belonging to the powerful Ming clan, were put to death after their appeals were rejected by the nation's highest judicial authority.
The Rise and Fall of the Ming Family Empire
For many years, the Ming family exerted near-complete dominance over the town of Laukkaing in northern Myanmar's Shan State. This previously impoverished and isolated region was transformed under their influence into a bustling hub of illicit activity. The area became infamous for its casinos, online fraud centres, and brothels that primarily catered to an international clientele.
Legal Proceedings and Supreme Court Ruling
The executions followed a definitive legal process that began with a court in Zhejiang province issuing death sentences last September. The convicted individuals were found guilty of multiple serious offences including murder, fraud, illegal detention, and operating large-scale gambling enterprises. China's Supreme People's Court subsequently reviewed and rejected the group's appeals in November, providing final authorisation for the sentences to be implemented.
State-owned Xinhua news agency reported that the crimes leading to execution included "intentional homicide, intentional injury, unlawful detention, fraud and casino establishment." The Supreme Court determined that evidence of criminal activities dating back to 2015 was "conclusive and sufficient" to justify the ultimate penalty.
Connection to Myanmar's Civil Conflict
The downfall of the Ming family's criminal empire was closely linked to escalating civil conflict in Myanmar. In 2023, ethnic armed groups successfully seized control of Laukkaing from forces aligned with the military junta. During this takeover, numerous members of the Ming network were detained by militia groups and later transferred to Chinese authorities for prosecution.
Scale of Criminal Operations and Financial Impact
According to Chinese judicial authorities, the Ming family's illicit businesses generated staggering revenues exceeding 10 billion yuan (approximately £1 billion) between 2015 and 2023. Their criminal activities were directly linked to the deaths of fourteen Chinese citizens and injuries to many others, creating significant public outrage within China.
Broader Crackdown on Cross-Border Cyber Fraud
China has intensified its coordination with Southeast Asian governments to dismantle scam compounds operating across borders. Last year alone, Chinese authorities reported that more than 7,600 Chinese citizens suspected of involvement in online gambling and telecom scams were returned from Myawaddy, a southeastern Myanmar town near the Thai border.
For years, these scam compounds in Myanmar have been associated with the trafficking of hundreds of thousands of people, many of them Chinese nationals. Victims were typically lured with false promises of legitimate employment opportunities, only to be held captive and forced to conduct online fraud targeting individuals abroad.
High-Profile Cases and Public Outrage
Public anger within China reached new heights last year following widespread reports about a Chinese actor who travelled to Thailand believing he had secured an acting job. Instead, he was smuggled into a scam compound in Myanmar. The 22-year-old actor, Wang Xing, was eventually rescued after his family requested assistance from the Chinese embassy in Thailand.
Thai authorities located him in Myanmar and returned him for questioning. His case highlighted the human trafficking dimensions of these criminal operations and increased pressure on authorities to take decisive action.
Regional Cooperation and Recent Developments
Chinese authorities have repeatedly expressed serious concerns about the scale of these cross-border criminal operations, urging Myanmar's military government to intervene more effectively. The executions represent one of the most significant actions in an ongoing regional crackdown.
In a related development earlier this month, Cambodian authorities extradited businessman Chen Zhi to China. The United States has alleged that Chen leads a corporate group serving as a front for a cyber fraud operation generating billions of dollars, indicating the international dimensions of these criminal networks.
Xinhua reported that "the criminals' close relatives were allowed to meet with them before the execution," following standard judicial procedures in China. This case underscores the determined efforts by Chinese authorities to combat organised crime networks operating across Southeast Asian borders.
