China's Tough Stance: Death Sentences for Myanmar Mafia Leaders

Tue Nov 04 2025 18:31:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a landmark ruling, a Chinese court has sentenced five members of the notorious Bai family, known for their involvement in extensive scam operations, to death. This move is part of a broader crackdown by Beijing on organized crime linked to Myanmar.

A recent ruling by a Chinese court has imposed death sentences on five key members of the Bai family mafia, notorious for orchestrating large-scale scams and criminal operations in Southeast Asia. The Bai family played a central role in transforming Laukkaing, Myanmar, into a hub for casinos and scams while exploiting trafficked workers. This judicial action signals Beijing's ongoing commitment to tackle organized crime and sends a stern message to other criminal entities operating in the region.

A Chinese court has sentenced five top members of an infamous Myanmar mafia to death as Beijing continues its crackdown on scam operations in South East Asia.

In total, 21 members and associates of the Bai family were convicted of multiple crimes including fraud, homicide, and injury, according to state media reports.

This family's rise to power began in the 2000s, turning the impoverished town of Laukkaing into a profitable center for casinos and red-light districts, before pivoting to scams that exploited thousands of trafficked workers, many of whom were from China.

Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among those sentenced to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, alongside Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang, and Chen Guangyi. Two other family members received suspended death sentences, while several received life imprisonment and varying jail terms.

Authorities reveal that this mafia controlled a vast enterprise involving cyber scams and casinos, with financial activities amounting to more than 29 billion Chinese yuan ($4.1 billion). Their actions resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries among victims.

This severe judgment is part of China’s broader campaign to dismantle extensive scam networks in Southeast Asia, acting as a warning to other criminal syndicates. Earlier in September, 11 members of another prominent mafia, the Ming family, were also sentenced to death.

The Bai family’s influence grew with the aid of Myanmar's military leadership, yet their downfall has been rapid, particularly in the backdrop of changing political dynamics and intensified pressure from Beijing.

In a documentary, Bai Yingcang previously claimed the Bai family's dominance in both political and military spheres, a testament to their power before this recent judicial outcome. Former workers at their scam centers have described harrowing abuse they endured as part of the crime syndicate’s operations.

The convictions send a clear message from the Chinese government: heinous crimes against Chinese citizens will not go unchecked.