In a landmark judicial ruling, Chinese authorities have executed 11 members of the notorious Ming criminal organization following their conviction for operating extensive transnational criminal enterprises in Myanmar. The Intermediate People’s Court of Zhejiang Province delivered the sentences in September 2025 after establishing guilt on multiple charges including homicide, unlawful imprisonment, large-scale fraud operations, and managing illegal gambling establishments.
The Ming crime syndicate, among several powerful clans that controlled the Myanmar border town of Laukkaing, transformed the previously impoverished area into a bustling hub of illicit activities featuring casinos and entertainment districts. Their criminal empire collapsed in 2023 when Myanmar authorities, responding to diplomatic pressure from Beijing, arrested and extradited the family members to China for prosecution.
According to court documents, the Ming organization generated approximately 10 billion yuan (equivalent to $1.4 billion) in illicit revenue between 2015 and 2023 through their scam operations and gambling dens. Most tragically, their criminal activities directly caused the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and inflicted injuries on numerous others.
The case highlights China’s intensified efforts to combat transnational organized crime, particularly focusing on scam operations that have entrapped thousands of Chinese citizens forced into fraudulent activities targeting victims globally. The prosecution gained significant public attention following viral social media reports about Chinese citizens being trafficked to Myanmar under false pretenses, including the case of a minor actor who traveled to Thailand for acting work only to be transported to a scam compound in Myanmar.