A court in China has sentenced 11 members of the Ming family to death for their involvement in operating scam centers in Myanmar, as reported by Chinese state media. A total of 39 family members were found guilty of various criminal activities, with others receiving varied prison sentences. The Ming family was linked to one of four clans controlling Laukkai, a town near the Chinese border known for gambling, drugs, and scams.
In 2023, Myanmar authorities increased their crackdown on these operations, leading to the arrest and extradition of numerous individuals to China. The court proceedings, held in Wenzhou, resulted in five additional members receiving death sentences with two-year suspensions, 11 sentenced to life in prison, and others facing sentences from five to 24 years.
Since 2015, the Ming family, alongside other criminal organizations, engaged in activities such as telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and prostitution, with the court estimating their operations generated over 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion). The gambling establishments were initially formed to cater to the demand for illegal gambling in China but evolved into significant centers for money laundering and trafficking.
Laukkai gained notoriety for housing scam centers that hold foreign nationals, many from China, who were coerced into working on online fraud schemes. The situation in Shan State intensified when an alliance of insurgent groups recently drove Myanmar’s military from control of the region. Following this turmoil, the Ming family faced increased scrutiny. Reports indicate that Ming Xuechang, the family’s patriarch, died by suicide, while other family members were apprehended and later expressed regret for their actions.
China’s recent judicial actions reflect a commitment to combatting cross-border crime, pressuring neighboring countries like Thailand to also regulate similar activities. Meanwhile, some of these operations have reportedly moved to Cambodia, yet remain active in Myanmar.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78nrx309kzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss