The Tamesis
China’s decision to execute 11 members of a notorious family and mafia figure who ran a fraud center in northern Myanmar sends a signal to thousands of citizens who run fraud centers in Southeast Asia.
Members of the Ming family, one of several prominent families in the autonomous region near the Chinese border, were executed for “intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, and operating a gambling establishment.” Xinhua News Agency reported today.
In September 2025, the Mings and many others were sentenced to death after a trial in Wenzhou, in eastern Zhejiang province. They were one of a handful of families who ran casinos and a red-light district before setting up a fraud center in Lauking, a town near the Chinese border.
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Xinhua News Agency said that the 11 “gang members” filed a first-instance trial with the Higher People’s Court, but the original verdict was upheld, and the Supreme People’s Court subsequently approved the death sentence.
The Supreme People’s Court stated that these 11 people operated multiple bases in Myanmar and engaged in criminal activities such as telecommunications fraud and illegal gambling dens. It is said that more than 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) was involved in fraud and gambling.
The gang also intentionally killed, beat and illegally detained fraudsters, resulting in the death of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to many others.
In late 2023, China intervened aggressively to shut down a fraud center in Laojin, Kokang Autonomous Region, an outcome that was widely anticipated.
More executions expected
Analysts speculate that this could be the first of many such verdicts by mainland courts, as Beijing wants those involved in fraud in Southeast Asia to know they will face ultimate punishment for such crimes.
Scam hubs in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have been Huge harvest In recent years, severe trauma has been caused to those trafficked and forced to work in these compounds, and victims have been defrauded of their savings.
Many centers are suspected of being run by Chinese criminals, but experts monitoring the centers “scam” People are said to be drawn from all over the world to work in these places, with many doing so voluntarily because of a lack of job opportunities in their home countries.
Leaders in Myanmar and Cambodia have been tearing down scam structures recently, but experts such as Jacob Sims and Jason Tower say these are often stunts trying to show power brokers in China and the United States that they are cracking down on the problem.
China’s Ministry of Public Security said more than 7,600 Chinese nationals accused of online gambling and telecom fraud were repatriated in 2025 from the town of Myawaddy in southeastern Myanmar on the border with Thailand.
Hundreds of people have been flown home from Mae Sot in northwest Thailand in recent weeks after scams such as KK Park were dismantled.
“Next is the Bai family”
Researcher at Harvard University Jacob SimsLast year, he compiled a disturbing report on the scale of fraud in Cambodia and released Court decision video X said: “This is the first time China has executed a Myanmar fraud boss.”
He predicted that another notorious family from Lao Cai might suffer the same fate, saying: “Five more families from the Bai family will follow. The trials of the Wei family and the Liu family are still ongoing.”
The Bai family, another Lao Jin family, was arrested and handed over to Chinese authorities after a crackdown in late 2023.
“The scam industry isn’t going away. It’s just moving south,” Sims said. “The question now is whether anyone along the Cambodian or Thai border is paying attention.”
Meanwhile, U.S. and British authorities have also been trying to crack down on the leaders of Southeast Asia’s fraud hubs.
Their most prominent action was to force Sanctions imposed on Cambodian Prince Group Last October, approximately $15 billion worth of Bitcoin was seized, along with $172 million worth of UK property.
The intervention resulted in Chinese police arresting the chairman of the Prince Group and charging “Scam billionaire” Chen Zhi earlier this month.
He could face a similar fate, depending on what happens in the next few years.
See also:
“Fraud billionaire” Chen Zhi arrested in Cambodia and flown to China
Countries seize US$700 million in Prince Group assets in pursuit of “fraudulent billionaire”
US targets multi-billion dollar fraud network in Myanmar and Cambodia
US, UK praised for fraud hub sanctioning and seizing $15 billion in Bitcoin
Cambodia’s fraud hub has tense relations with countries near and far
U.S. sanctions Cambodian Karen warlord’s money laundering ring
UN says Southeast Asian criminal networks rely on Telegram, cryptocurrencies
