China executes 11 members of Myanmar scam mafia

China has executed 11 members of a notorious family that ran scam centres in Myanmar, state media report.

A court in Zhejiang province sentenced the Ming family members for crimes including homicide, illegal detention, fraud and operating gambling dens in September.

The Ming family was one of several clans that ran Myanmar's sleepy town of Laukkaing, close to the border with China. Under their rule, the impoverished backwater was transformed into a flashy hub of casinos and red-light districts.

But their scam empire came crashing down in 2023, when Myanmar authorities arrested them and handed them to China, as part of a crackdown prompted by pressure from Beijing.

Their scam operations and gambling dens brought in more than 10bn yuan ($1.4bn; £1bn) between 2015 and 2023, according to the court.

Their crimes resulted in the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to may others, the court said.

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