A Chinese court has sentenced five top members of an infamous Myanmar mafia to death as Beijing continues its crackdown on scam operations in South East Asia.
In total, 21 members of the Bai family and their associates were convicted of various crimes including fraud, homicide, and injury, according to a report from state media.
The Bai family rose to prominence in the 2000s, transforming Laukkaing from an impoverished town into a lucrative center for casinos and sex work, later evolving into a hub for scams that exploited thousands of trafficked workers.
Mafia leader Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among the five sentenced to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, alongside Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang, and Chen Guangyi.
Additionally, two members received suspended death sentences, while five were sentenced to life imprisonment and nine others received prison terms ranging from three to 20 years.
Authorities reported that the Bai family controlled their own militia and set up 41 compounds for their cyberscam and gambling activities, which have involved over 29 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $4.1 billion), leading to multiple deaths and severe injuries.
This strict sentencing is part of China's escalating campaign to eradicate illicit operations across South East Asia. A similar crackdown was evidenced by a September ruling where 11 members of another prominent family from Laukkaing received death sentences.
The Bais had strong political ties, reportedly supported by Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military leader, during their rise to power.
In a documentary about the family, Bai Yingcang previously described their dominance in political and military circles: At that time, our Bai family was the most powerful in both the political and military circles.
A former worker at one of their scam centers recounted severe abuse, including torture, reflecting the brutal nature of their operations.
Aside from the recent murders and trafficking, Bai Yingcang was also convicted of conspiring to traffic 11 tonnes of methamphetamine. The unexpected fall of the Bai family corresponds with changing political dynamics, with Chinese authorities intensifying efforts to rein in organized crime in Myanmar.
This hardline approach aims to convey a clear message: committing heinous crimes against the Chinese people will have dire consequences, regardless of one's status.
