China sentences 11 mafias to death over Myanmar scam operations

**China Sentences 11 Mafias to Death Over Myanmar Scam Operations**

*By Snehil Singh | Sep 30, 2025, 03:57 PM*

A Chinese court has sentenced 11 members of the notorious Ming family to death for their involvement in a Myanmar-based crime syndicate. The family-run syndicate was accused of orchestrating online scams and illegal gambling operations worth over $1.4 billion.

The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdicts on Monday, with those sentenced including Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, and several others.

### Legal Proceedings

Alongside the 11 death sentences, five defendants received suspended death sentences for two years, which are typically commuted to life imprisonment. Additionally, twelve more individuals were handed prison terms ranging from five to 24 years.

The syndicate’s criminal activities resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including 10 involved in fraud who either tried to escape or disobeyed the gang’s management. In November 2023, China issued arrest warrants for four Ming family members on charges of fraud, murder, and illegal detention.

### Uncovering the Operations

According to a report by *The Guardian*, the court revealed that the syndicate had “financial backers” and provided armed protection for them. The court found that the group relied on armed force to establish multiple compounds in Kokang, a Myanmar region bordering China.

In one notable incident in October 2023, the accused allegedly opened fire at a scam compound to prevent individuals from being transferred back to China.

### Industry Impact and Regional Crackdown

China has been collaborating with neighboring countries to dismantle these criminal networks. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that scam centers in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia form part of a global industry worth approximately $40 billion annually.

Victims, often trafficked workers, are forced to conduct romance-based investment scams. The UN warns that Chinese and Southeast Asian gangs are generating tens of billions of dollars each year through these cyber scam centers.

In February, joint efforts by China, Myanmar, and Thailand successfully freed over 7,000 workers from scam centers located along the Thai-Myanmar border.

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This landmark verdict marks a significant step in China’s ongoing campaign against transnational cybercrime and illegal gambling operations linked to organized crime in the region.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/china-sentences-11-to-death-for-family-run-myanmar-scam-operations/story

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