Chinese Court Delivers Death Sentences to 11 Members of Notorious Mafia Family

Fri Oct 10 2025 11:40:26 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A brutal crackdown leads to the death penalty for 11 members of the Ming family, who were integral to organized crime in Myanmar, emphasizing China's resolve against cross-border scams.

In a significant ruling, a Chinese court has sentenced 11 members of the Ming family to death for their involvement in extensive criminal activities, including scam operations and drug trafficking, in Myanmar. The convictions come as part of a larger crackdown on organized crime that saw nearly 40 family members tried for various offenses, illustrating China's commitment to combatting illegal operations affecting its territory.

A Chinese court has sentenced to death 11 members of a notorious family that ran scam centres in Myanmar, according to Chinese state media.

Dozens of members of the Ming family were found guilty of conducting criminal activities, with many receiving lengthy jail sentences.

The Ming family worked for one of the four clans that ran Myanmar's sleepy backwater town of Laukkai, close to the border with China, and turned it into a hub for gambling, drugs, and scam centres.

Myanmar eventually cracked down, arresting many members of these families in 2023 and handing them over to Chinese authorities.

A total of 39 Ming family members were sentenced on Monday in the eastern city of Wenzhou, according to a report by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Besides the 11 members who received death sentences, another five members were given death sentences with two-year suspensions; 11 were jailed for life; and others received sentences ranging from five to 24 years.

The court revealed that since 2015, the Ming family and other criminal organizations engaged in telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and prostitution.

Their gambling and scam activities had generated more than 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion) according to the court, with earlier estimates suggesting that the family’s operations handled several billion dollars annually.

Tragically, the court also found the Ming family responsible for the deaths of some scam centre workers, including acts of violence to prevent them from escaping back to China.

Originally developed to exploit Chinese gambling demand - which is illegal in China and many neighboring countries - Laukkai's casinos turned into fronts for money laundering and human trafficking, significantly impacting the criminal landscape in Southeast Asia.

The Ming family once wielded tremendous power in Myanmar's Shan State, operating numerous scam centres that held at least 10,000 workers. Among the most infamous was 'Crouching Tiger Villa', where workers faced abuse and imprisonment.

In recent years, an insurgent offensive led to a military retreat, subsequently allowing Chinese authorities to apprehend many involved. Ming Xuechang, the family patriarch, reportedly took his own life as circumstances grew dire.

With these sentences, China underscores a fierce commitment to countering transnational crime that threatens its sovereignty and social stability.

While the crackdown marks a significant step forward, concerns remain as criminal enterprises adapt and relocate operations, notably in Cambodia and other regions.