A Chinese court has sentenced 11 members of the Ming family to death for their involvement in large-scale scam operations in Myanmar, state media reports.
In total, 39 members of the family received various sentences for criminal activities, including telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and prostitution. In addition to the 11 death sentences, five received death penalties with two-year suspensions, 11 were given life imprisonment, and the remainder were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 24 years.
The Ming family was one of four powerful clans controlling Laukkaing, a border town in Myanmar that had become a hub for gambling, online scam centres, and drug-related activities. Myanmar authorities launched a crackdown in 2023, arresting several family members and transferring them to Chinese custody.
Court findings indicated that the family’s operations generated over 10 billion yuan (around $1.4 billion) since 2015. Investigators also linked the group to multiple deaths of scam centre workers, including shootings intended to prevent employees from fleeing.
Initially, Laukkaing’s casinos were set up to cater to Chinese gamblers, whose activities are illegal in China and neighboring countries. Over time, the town evolved into a centre for human trafficking, money laundering, and online fraud. The United Nations has referred to the area as the focal point of the “scamdemic,” in which over 100,000 foreign nationals—mostly Chinese—were forced to work in these centres under harsh conditions.
At its height, the Ming family operated compounds housing up to 10,000 workers, with Crouching Tiger Villa being the most notorious for abuse and torture.
Two years ago, insurgent groups launched an offensive that expelled Myanmar’s military from large areas of Shan State, including Laukkaing. Following the takeover, patriarch Ming Xuechang reportedly committed suicide, while other family members were handed over to Chinese authorities. Thousands of workers from the scam centres were also transferred to Chinese custody.
Authorities say the verdicts demonstrate China’s firm stance against cross-border scam operations. The country has also pressured Thailand to take action against similar schemes along its Myanmar border. Despite these efforts, such criminal networks have adapted, with much of their operations moving to Cambodia, while scams in Myanmar persist.
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