In a decisive move against organized crime, the Chinese government has executed 11 members of the Ming mafia family, who were operating extensive scam centers in Myanmar along the northeastern border. According to state media, the execution follows their sentencing in September on various charges, including homicide, illegal detention, and fraud.
The Ming family was emblematic of multiple clans that transformed Laukkaing—a once poverty-stricken town—into a flashy hub known for casinos and gambling dens. However, their criminal enterprise came to an end in 2023, when they were captured and handed over to Chinese authorities by ethnic militias amid rising conflict with Myanmar’s army.
China's recent actions serve not only as a punishment for the Ming family but also as a deterrent against other would-be scammers, as the country grapples with hundreds of thousands of trafficking victims forced into running online scams, primarily targeting Chinese citizens. The execution has prompted discussions about the effectiveness of China's crackdown on burgeoning scam networks that have now shifted operations to other borders in the region.
Among the executed, the Ming family was reported to have generated over 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) from their illicit operations between 2015 and 2023. Their forms of crime not only included fraud but also resulted in significant violence, including the deaths of numerous victims. In a broader context, China has shown increasing frustration regarding the Myanmar military’s failure to address these scams, which may have benefited from military complicity.
This crackdown reflects China's ongoing strategy to shift the narrative around its governance and justice system, aiming to demonstrate its commitment to eradicating such operations from its borders.
