In brief
China has executed 11 members of the Ming family, who ran scam and gambling operations in Myanmar. The Ming family's activities contributed to significant trafficking and fraud cases affecting thousands, sparking a crackdown from Chinese authorities as they responded to the Myanmar military's inaction. This is part of a broader effort to deter criminal enterprises operating in Southeast Asia, particularly those targeting Chinese citizens.
China has executed 11 members of a notorious mafia family that ran scam centres in Myanmar along its north-eastern border, according to state media reports.
The Ming family members were sentenced in September for various crimes including homicide, illegal detention, fraud, and operating gambling dens by a court in China's Zhejiang province.
The Mings transformed Laukkaing, a previously impoverished town, into a bustling hub of casinos and illicit activities.
Their criminal empire was dismantled in 2023 when ethnic militias took control of Laukkaing, resulting in their arrest and subsequent extradition to China.
With these executions, Beijing aims to send a strong deterrent message to potential scammers. However, many operations have shifted to regions with less Chinese influence, such as Myanmar's borders with Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of individuals have been trafficked for scam operations in Southeast Asia, including many Chinese citizens, who are both victims and perpetrators of these scams.
China has shown increasing frustration with Myanmar's military, believed to be profiting from the scam industry and failing to effectively combat it. Consequently, Beijing supported an ethnic insurgent alliance which captured Laukkaing from military control.
Who are the Ming family?
The 11 executed family members mark the first casualties in China's crackdown on the leaders of Myanmar's scam syndicates. Following them, five members of the Bai family were also sentenced to death, with trials pending for the Wei and Liu families.
The Ming family trial was conducted behind closed doors, but many victims' relatives were allowed to attend the sentencing in 2025. Their operations reportedly generated over 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion) between 2015 and 2023, resulting in significant harm to numerous individuals, including the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens.
This crackdown reflects a broader crackdown on the mafia-like structures that have emerged in Laukkaing following political instability in Myanmar, where the Ming family had established their illicit empire.
