Chinese courts have sentenced 11 members of the Ming family, part of notorious criminal clans operating in Myanmar, to various penalties for their roles in fraud and other illegal activities. The Ming family was instrumental in transforming the town of Laukkai into a hub for gambling, drugs, and fraud, generating significant revenue—estimates suggest around 100 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) from their operations since 2015.
In a crackdown initiated in 2023, Myanmar authorities arrested many from these families and transferred them to China, where court verdicts included death sentences and life imprisonment. Conditions for workers at these fraud centers were abysmal, with reports of torture and forced labor affecting over 100,000 individuals, many of whom were Chinese nationals.
The Ming family’s operations also led to violence, including deaths among their workers. This crackdown illustrates China’s increasing resolve to combat cross-border fraud and criminal activity, with pressure also resulting in actions against similar operations in Thailand. However, similar illegal activities continue to flourish in Cambodia and Myanmar.
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