ThePrint ThePrintPod: Fake call centres, drug dens—why China executed 11 members of Myanmar’s Ming family
Jan 30, 2026
An organised crime network ran fake call centres, gambling dens and drug hubs across borders. Large-scale romance and investment scams siphoned off huge sums. Forced recruitment, torture and deadly violence led to multiple deaths. Authorities denied appeals and pledged tougher cross-border anti-fraud action.
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Ming Family Built A Billion-Yuan Crime Empire
- The Ming family ran a decade-long criminal empire in Myanmar that profited over 10 billion yuan through scams, gambling and drugs.
- China prosecuted and executed top members to signal determination to eradicate cross-border fraud networks.
Legal Case Led To Executions And Policy Message
- Chinese courts convicted Ming family members of homicide, illegal detention and fraud, upholding death sentences on appeal.
- China framed the executions as part of intensified efforts to eliminate gambling and fraud affecting its citizens.
Workers Lured, Coerced And Brutalized
- Workers were lured from China with fake jobs and coerced into scam centres guarded by armed men.
- Testimonies describe regular beatings, torture and a compound called Crouching Tiger Villa where staff worked under armed protection.