In a significant crackdown on organized crime, a Chinese court has sentenced eleven members of the influential Ming family to death. The family is accused of orchestrating extensive criminal enterprises from the Myanmar town of Laukkai, transforming it into a hub for illicit activities including scam centers, gambling, and drug trafficking.
The crackdown followed an offensive by insurgent groups that took control of Laukkai last year, leading to the handover of many family members to Chinese authorities. In total, 39 members of the Ming family faced sentencing, with verdicts ranging from death sentences with reprieve to life imprisonment and substantial jail terms. The court found the family responsible for generating billions of yuan through their illegal operations since 2015, and also implicated them in the deaths of several scam center workers.
This decisive action by China signals a strong stance against cross-border crime and human trafficking, highlighting the devastating impact of these scam operations, which have ensnared thousands of individuals globally.