China Executes 11 Members of Ming Family for Massive Online Scam Operation in Myanmar

The execution follows a court ruling in Zhejiang province in September, targeting a criminal family that transformed Laukkaing into a hub of online scams, gambling, and drug-related crimes. United Nations estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked for online scams in Myanmar and Southeast Asia, with thousands of Chinese victims losing billions of dollars. The Ming family was one of several criminal clans that controlled Laukkaing, a border town that became notorious for cybercrime. Their criminal empire collapsed in 2023 after a crackdown and cross-border criminal transfers. China was reportedly dissatisfied with Myanmar's military's reluctance to stop these criminal operations, leading to quiet support for ethnic alliance groups opposing the military government. These 11 Ming family members are the first scam operation leaders executed in China, but likely not the last. In November, a court also sentenced five members of the Bai family to death, with ongoing investigations into the Wei and Liu families. The case highlights the increasing severity of China's response to transnational cybercrime operations.