China Executes 11 Members of Criminal Clan Linked to Myanmar Scam

Post by : Mina Rahman

The Chinese government has put to death 11 members of the notorious Ming family, a syndicate infamous for orchestrating extensive scam operations and illegal gambling activities in Myanmar. Last September, the courts in Zhejiang found them guilty of serious charges, including murder, illegal detention, fraud, and operating unauthorized gambling venues.

Dominating in Laukkaing, a border town in Myanmar close to China, the Ming clan transformed the area from a previously quiet locale into a bustling hub filled with casinos and illicit activities. Their criminal operations lured thousands of Chinese workers, forcibly trafficked into these sites where they were compelled to conduct scams against individuals overseas.

The disintegration of their scam empire came in 2023 when local ethnic militias seized control of Laukkaing during Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict. These militias apprehended the Ming family and transferred them into the hands of Chinese authorities. Distressing accounts of victims, including a minor Chinese actor led astray into these scams, circulated widely in China, leading to a surge of public anger and intensifying pressure on Myanmar’s military regime to dismantle scam activities.

According to statements from China’s top court, the illegal operations of the Ming mafia amassed over 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion) from 2015 to 2023. Their criminal endeavors resulted in at least 14 Chinese fatalities and injuries to numerous others. After dismissing all appeals made by the Ming family, the court executed the sentences to terminate their perilous criminal enterprise.