Chinese authorities have executed 11 members of the notorious Ming family, a powerful criminal network that operated scam centers in northern Myanmar. State media reported that the group ran mafia-style operations involving online fraud, prostitution, and drug production. Workers who attempted to escape were often detained or killed.
The individuals were sentenced to death in September after being convicted of crimes including murder, illegal detention, and fraud. Two defendants appealed their sentences, but China’s Supreme People’s Court upheld the verdicts. Before the executions, the convicts were allowed to meet their close relatives.
Scam Operations and Criminal Networks in Myanmar
The Ming family was one of four major crime syndicates controlling large scam hubs in Myanmar’s Kokang region near the Chinese border. Their main base, Crouching Tiger Villa, once employed up to 10,000 people to conduct online scams and other illegal activities.
These operations flourished in unstable border areas where weak law enforcement and ongoing conflict provided protection. Many workers were trafficked and forced to participate in fraudulent schemes. After increased pressure from victims’ families and international media, China began a major crackdown in 2023, issuing arrest warrants and offering rewards for suspects.
Leadership, Violence, and China’s Anti-Fraud Campaign
The group’s leader, Ming Xuechang, a former Myanmar lawmaker, died by suicide while in custody. Among those executed were his son Ming Guoping, a militia leader, and his granddaughter Ming Zhenzhen. Another syndicate leader, Wu Hongming, was also executed for his role in violent crimes.
Authorities found that the network was responsible for the deaths of at least 14 Chinese citizens. In one 2023 incident, armed members opened fire on workers while trying to move them ahead of a police raid.
With scam networks in Southeast Asia generating more than $43 billion annually, China has strengthened its response. The foreign ministry stated that the government will continue intensifying efforts to eliminate online fraud and illegal gambling.
