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 all, 21 members of the Bai family and their associates were convicted of fraud, homicide, injury, and other crimes, according to a state media report published on the court's website.
The Bai family is among a handful of mafias that rose to prominence in the 2000s, transforming the impoverished town of Laukkaing into a lucrative hub for casinos and illegal activities.
In recent years, they pivoted to scams involving trafficked workers, many of whom are Chinese, who are trapped, abused, and forced into fraud operations generating billions in criminal activity.
Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among those sentenced to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang, and Chen Guangyi were also sentenced to death.
Two members were given suspended death sentences, and five received life imprisonment, with others handed prison terms ranging from three to 20 years.
The Bais, who maintained their own militia, operated 41 compounds for their cyberscam activities, leading to losses of over 29 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $4.1 billion) and multiple deaths among victims.
The severe sentences reflect China's ongoing campaign to eradicate scam networks in Southeast Asia, serving as a warning to other syndicates.
In September, a Chinese court similarly sentenced 11 members of another prominent clan, further signaling Beijing's intensified efforts against organized crime.
The Bai family's rise was supported by Myanmar's military government, reflecting a deeper connection between crime and politics in the region. Bai Yingcang had previously described his family as the most powerful in both the political and military landscapes.
Amid these developments, Bai Yingcang faces separate convictions for conspiracy related to extensive methamphetamine trafficking.
The Chinese government's response underscores its commitment to addressing severe crimes that affect its citizens, with law enforcement efforts focusing on dismantling organized crime.
