China has executed 11 members of the notorious Ming family, a criminal syndicate responsible for operating extensive scam networks in Myanmar and committing violent crimes against workers who attempted to flee. The executions were carried out following convictions for murder, illegal detention, and fraud, marking the culmination of a high-profile case that has drawn international attention.
The Ming family, long considered one of the four major criminal families in northern Myanmar, ran large-scale operations in the Kokang region along the Myanmar-China border. Their activities included cyber fraud, human trafficking, prostitution, and drug production. Members of the gang reportedly maintained influential positions within local government structures and militia forces aligned with Myanmar’s ruling military junta, allowing them to operate with relative impunity.
The 11 individuals were sentenced to death in September 2025 after Chinese courts found them guilty of multiple offenses, including homicide and large-scale fraud schemes. Two of the defendants appealed their sentences, escalating the case to the Supreme People’s Court of China, which confirmed the original verdict. Chinese state media highlighted that all executed individuals had ties to the central leadership of the syndicate.
Ming Xuechang, the patriarch of the family, had a longstanding presence in Myanmar’s political landscape, having served in the state parliament. He was closely associated with a criminal compound known as Crouching Tiger Villa in Kokang. At the height of its operations, the compound reportedly employed around 10,000 individuals to carry out scams and other illicit activities. The syndicate’s influence extended throughout Laukkaing, the regional capital, which became a hub for a multibillion-dollar online fraud industry exploiting vulnerable trafficked workers.
The surge in international scrutiny and complaints from relatives of trafficked scam workers prompted Beijing to launch a crackdown on these operations in 2023. By November of that year, Chinese authorities issued arrest warrants for numerous members of the Ming family, charging them with murder, human trafficking, and large-scale fraud. Bounties ranging from $14,000 to $70,000 were offered for information leading to their capture.
Ming Xuechang later died by suicide while in custody, according to Chinese media reports. His son, Ming Guoping, who held a leadership role in the junta-aligned Kokang Border Guard Force, and his granddaughter, Ming Zhenzhen, were among those executed. Reports indicated that the family members were allowed to meet with close relatives before their executions took place.
The gang had also collaborated with Wu Hongming, another criminal syndicate leader who was executed alongside them. Together, they orchestrated acts that involved the deliberate killing, injuring, and unlawful detention of scam workers, resulting in the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals. One particularly violent episode in October 2023 saw four people killed when members of the syndicate allegedly opened fire during a worker transfer operation. The transfer, conducted under armed guard, was reportedly prompted by intelligence indicating that police planned to raid the compound.
The operations run by the Ming family are part of a broader issue of large-scale scamming networks in Southeast Asia. Estimates from the United States Institute of Peace suggest that online and cyber-enabled scams originating from the region generate more than $43 billion annually. These criminal enterprises often thrive in areas where government oversight is limited, law enforcement is weak, and corruption is pervasive. Myanmar’s border regions have historically provided a safe haven for such operations, enabling syndicates to exploit both the local population and trafficked workers from abroad.
The civil conflict in Myanmar over the past five years has further exacerbated the situation. The instability created by the ongoing civil war allowed criminal syndicates to expand their networks with minimal interference, often benefiting from the protection or tacit support of armed groups and local authorities. In northern Myanmar, gangs like the Ming family leveraged both political connections and military affiliations to fortify their positions and evade justice.
China’s response to these developments has been resolute. After years of complaints and growing media attention, authorities intensified efforts to dismantle the syndicate’s operations. The Supreme People’s Court’s confirmation of the death sentences underscored China’s commitment to holding the gang’s leadership accountable for both the economic and human costs of their crimes.
Chinese officials emphasized that these measures are part of a broader campaign to combat online fraud and other criminal enterprises affecting citizens both domestically and abroad. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry reiterated on Thursday that Beijing will continue to strengthen its efforts to “eradicate the scourge of gambling and fraud,” signaling ongoing vigilance against transnational criminal networks.
The Ming family’s downfall also reflects the growing international concern over organized crime networks that operate across borders. Cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and forced labor have become increasingly sophisticated, relying on technology, intimidation, and complex logistics to maintain operations. The case has drawn attention not only to the abuses perpetrated by the syndicate but also to the structural vulnerabilities in regions affected by limited governance and ongoing conflict.
In addition to criminal prosecutions, Chinese authorities have implemented broader security measures targeting online scam operations. These measures include monitoring cross-border financial flows, tightening visa regulations for high-risk areas, and coordinating with regional partners to prevent the establishment of new criminal compounds. Experts warn that without sustained enforcement and international cooperation, similar syndicates could reemerge in neighboring regions with comparable tactics.
The executions of Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, and other high-ranking family members have been described by Chinese media as a definitive end to one of the most prominent transnational scam operations tied to Myanmar. The dismantling of the Ming family network is also viewed as a deterrent to other criminal syndicates operating in Southeast Asia, signaling that high-level coordination and violent crime will be met with the strongest legal consequences.
While the crackdown has been widely publicized in China, international observers note that addressing the broader issues of cyber fraud, human trafficking, and exploitation will require sustained regional cooperation. Governments in Southeast Asia, along with global law enforcement agencies, are under increasing pressure to develop mechanisms to monitor, disrupt, and prosecute organized crime networks before they reach a scale similar to the Ming family syndicate.
The case also highlights the personal toll on trafficked workers, who were often coerced into participating in scams under threats of violence or confinement. Many victims have described harrowing experiences of forced labor, inadequate living conditions, and intimidation, shedding light on the human cost behind the lucrative scams that have generated billions in illicit revenue.
By executing the top leadership of the Ming family, China has sent a strong signal regarding accountability for transnational crime and reinforced its stance on protecting citizens from exploitation. The government’s actions underscore a broader commitment to safeguarding both domestic and overseas interests, particularly in regions where governance is weak and criminal networks are deeply entrenched.
The dismantling of the Ming family syndicate marks a significant chapter in the ongoing effort to combat organized crime in Southeast Asia. It also serves as a case study for how coordinated legal action, international pressure, and domestic enforcement can intersect to bring down long-standing criminal enterprises that operate across borders and exploit vulnerable populations.