China has executed eleven members of a major Myanmar-based family crime syndicate, following a significant crackdown on extensive scam and gambling operations that authorities say were worth over one billion US dollars. The executions mark a decisive move in Beijing's ongoing campaign against cross-border criminal enterprises that have proliferated in Southeast Asia.
Court Sentences and Syndicate Leadership
The Wenzhou City Intermediate People's Court announced the executions in an official statement released on Thursday morning. The court had originally sentenced the eleven individuals to death in September, with their subsequent appeal being formally rejected by judicial authorities in November.
Among those executed were Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, whom the court identified as the principal leaders orchestrating the vast scam and gambling network. Key group members Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang were also executed, having played crucial operational roles within the criminal organisation.
Violent Crimes and International Scam Operations
Authorities confirmed that the syndicate was responsible for the deaths of fourteen Chinese citizens, highlighting the violent nature of their criminal activities. Beyond these homicides, the group operated industrial-scale digital scam and gambling schemes, targeting victims globally from bases in Myanmar.
The family members were initially detained in November 2023, as Chinese authorities intensified pressure on border region officials in Myanmar to collaborate on dismantling these criminal networks. This detention was part of a broader regional effort to combat what has become a rampant issue.
Regional Context and International Pressure
Scam parks have evolved into a large-scale criminal industry across Southeast Asia, particularly within Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. These operations frequently utilise a mixture of trafficked and willing labour to perpetrate sophisticated digital scams on an international scale.
Governments in the region are facing mounting international pressure, notably from China, the United States, and other nations, to address the rapid proliferation of such criminal enterprises. The executions underscore China's assertive stance in demanding stronger action against syndicates that exploit border vulnerabilities and target its citizens.
This case illustrates the severe legal consequences being imposed by Chinese courts on those involved in transnational organised crime, reflecting a hardened judicial approach to offences that combine financial fraud with violent acts against Chinese nationals abroad.
