In one of the largest organized crime trials in recent years, a Chinese court has sentenced 11 members of the notorious Ming crime family to death for running transnational scam operations based in Myanmar.
The ruling, delivered in the eastern city of Wenzhou, highlights Beijing’s intensified crackdown on cross-border fraud networks that have defrauded billions and victimized thousands across Asia.
Massive Trial Against the Ming Crime Syndicate
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, a total of 39 individuals linked to the Ming family faced judgment in court on Monday. While 11 received immediate death sentences, five others were given death penalties with two-year reprieves. An additional 11 members were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the remaining defendants received prison terms ranging from five to 24 years.
The case is being described by legal experts as one of the harshest punishments handed out against an organized mafia group in recent Chinese history.
Criminal Empire Built on Scams and Gambling
Investigations revealed that the Ming family had been deeply entrenched in telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, illegal casinos, and prostitution rings since 2015.
Operating from Laukkai, a remote border town in Myanmar’s Shan State, the syndicate turned the area into a hub for gambling, money laundering, and large-scale scam centres. Chinese authorities estimated that their operations generated more than 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in illegal profits.
The court also linked the group to violent crimes, including the deaths of scam centre workers who were shot in order to stop them from escaping and returning to China.
Laukkai: From Casino Town to Scam Capital
Laukkai’s rise as a crime haven began with the booming demand for gambling among Chinese nationals, who are legally barred from casinos inside China. Over time, the town evolved into a hotspot for trafficking and online fraud, where foreign nationals were lured with fake job offers, then held captive and forced into cybercrime operations.
The United Nations has described this regional phenomenon as a “scamdemic,” estimating that more than 100,000 victims—mostly Chinese citizens—were coerced into working in scam compounds across Southeast Asia.
The Ming family’s most infamous operation, the Crouching Tiger Villa, was a sprawling compound that allegedly housed over 10,000 forced workers. Survivors reported regular beatings, torture, and inhumane living conditions.
The Fall of the Ming Family
The downfall of the Ming clan began two years ago when an alliance of ethnic insurgent groups in Shan State launched an offensive that expelled Myanmar’s military from large areas, including Laukkai. China, which maintains strong influence in the region, was widely believed to have tacitly supported the offensive.
During this upheaval, Ming Xuechang, the patriarch of the family, reportedly took his own life, while other relatives were captured and handed over to Chinese authorities. Several members have since expressed remorse during court proceedings.
Thousands of scam workers rescued from the compounds have also been repatriated to China, where they are undergoing investigations and rehabilitation programs.
Beijing’s Broader Crackdown on Cross-Border Crime
The severe sentences mark China’s determination to dismantle the multibillion-dollar scam industry thriving along its borders. Earlier this year, Beijing’s pressure also pushed Thailand to launch operations against criminal groups running fraud networks along its frontier with Myanmar.
However, analysts warn that while Myanmar’s Laukkai operations have been largely dismantled, scam syndicates have relocated to Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is weaker.
Global Impact of the Scam Industry
The Ming family’s activities were not limited to targeting Chinese citizens. Their sophisticated fraud networks reached victims across Asia, Europe, and North America, running elaborate online investment scams, romance fraud schemes, and digital extortion.
Experts believe that shutting down such networks requires regional cooperation, as the operations easily adapt by shifting to countries with looser regulations.
Conclusion: A Clear Warning from Beijing
The Wenzhou court’s decision to impose multiple death sentences sends a powerful message from Beijing that it will pursue organized crime syndicates relentlessly, regardless of where they operate.
While the crackdown has disrupted one of Asia’s most notorious mafia families, the persistence of scam networks across Southeast Asia underscores the ongoing challenges of tackling cross-border cybercrime.
For now, the sentencing of the Ming family stands as one of the strongest demonstrations of China’s resolve to combat the multibillion-dollar scam industry threatening global security and financial stability.
