China Sentences 11 Members of Myanmar’s Infamous Ming Family to Death Over $1.4 Billion Scam Empire
Beijing, China — A Chinese court has handed down death sentences to 11 members of the notorious Ming family, a powerful clan that built one of Myanmar’s most infamous scam and gambling empires. The ruling, delivered on Monday in the eastern city of Wenzhou, underscores China’s escalating crackdown on cross-border criminal networks that have devastated victims worldwide.
The Ming Family’s Rise and Fall
For years, the Ming family operated out of Laukkai, a remote town in Myanmar’s Shan State, close to the Chinese border. What was once a quiet backwater was transformed into a hotspot for illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and large-scale online scam centres.
The Ming family was one of four powerful clans that effectively controlled Laukkai. Their operations reportedly employed more than 10,000 workers, many of them tricked or trafficked into forced labor.
Among their most notorious properties was the Crouching Tiger Villa, a heavily guarded compound where workers were subjected to beatings, torture, and even killings if they attempted to escape.
Myanmar’s Crackdown and China’s Role
In 2023, Myanmar authorities—under mounting pressure from Beijing—moved against the Ming family and rival clans. Many family members were arrested and later extradited to China.
The crackdown coincided with a broader regional shift. Two years ago, an alliance of ethnic insurgent groups launched a military offensive against Myanmar’s junta, driving government forces out of large parts of Shan State and seizing control of Laukkai. Analysts believe the offensive proceeded with tacit approval from China, which wields significant influence in the region.
Ming family patriarch Ming Xuechang reportedly committed suicide before he could be taken into custody. Other members were detained and eventually handed over to Chinese authorities, with some delivering televised confessions expressing remorse.
Harsh Sentences in China
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, a total of 39 members of the Ming family were sentenced in Wenzhou.
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11 received death sentences.
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5 were given suspended death sentences (typically commuted to life imprisonment if no further crimes are committed within two years).
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11 received life sentences.
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The remainder were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 24 years.
The court ruled that since 2015, the Ming family and associated groups had engaged in a sprawling list of crimes: telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, money laundering, and prostitution.
Their network generated an estimated 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in illegal profits, according to the court. Independent analysts have suggested the true figure may be even higher, with each family’s casino operations processing several billion dollars annually.
The Human Cost of the “Scamdemic”
The Ming family’s empire was more than just about money. The court found the clan responsible for the deaths of multiple scam centre workers, including an incident where employees were shot to stop them from returning to China.
The case ties into what the United Nations has dubbed the “scamdemic.” Across Southeast Asia, more than 100,000 foreign nationals—many of them Chinese—have been trafficked into scam compounds. Once inside, they are stripped of their passports, imprisoned, and forced to work long hours running sophisticated online fraud schemes targeting victims around the globe.
China has been especially vocal in condemning these practices, given that its citizens make up a significant portion of both the trafficked workers and scam victims.
Regional Impact and Ongoing Challenges
The sentencing marks a strong signal from Beijing that it intends to punish cross-border fraud networks harshly. In recent years, China has stepped up pressure on its neighbors to dismantle scam centres operating along its borders.
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Earlier this year, Thailand—under Chinese pressure—launched raids on scam hubs along its frontier with Myanmar.
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Thousands of trafficked workers in Myanmar have also been rescued and repatriated to China.
Still, the business is proving resilient. As crackdowns intensify in Myanmar, operations have shifted to other hotspots, particularly Cambodia, where weak law enforcement has allowed criminal networks to flourish.
Why Laukkai Became a Scam Capital
Laukkai’s transformation into a global fraud hub highlights the intersection of illicit demand, weak governance, and regional instability. Gambling is outlawed in China and most neighboring countries, creating a huge demand for underground casinos.
The Ming family and rival clans exploited this demand, first through gambling and then by branching into online fraud, trafficking, and money laundering. Their operations turned Laukkai into what experts describe as the “engine room” of Asia’s scam economy.
What the Sentences Mean
The death penalties and long prison terms for the Ming family represent one of the harshest punishments China has imposed for cross-border fraud.
For Beijing, the case serves several purposes:
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Deterrence: Sending a clear warning to other scam operators still active in Southeast Asia.
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Control: Demonstrating China’s authority in dealing with criminal networks along its border.
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Public reassurance: Addressing rising anger among Chinese citizens, many of whom have lost money—or family members—to these scams.
At the same time, the sentences highlight the growing internationalization of organized crime in the region, where syndicates operate across national borders and exploit weak or corrupt governments.
Looking Ahead
Despite the dramatic sentencing, experts caution that the problem is far from solved. Scam operations have proven highly adaptable, shifting locations and tactics to evade law enforcement.
China’s aggressive stance may push operations further into Cambodia and other countries with limited oversight. Meanwhile, thousands of victims—both those trafficked into compounds and those scammed worldwide—continue to suffer the consequences.
For now, the Ming family’s downfall signals the end of one of Myanmar’s most notorious criminal dynasties. But the “scamdemic” it helped fuel is still alive, evolving, and spreading across Southeast Asia.