China on Thursday executed 11 members of the Ming family criminal group for large-scale cross-border telecom fraud and violent crimes targeting Chinese citizens.
The executions followed final approval by the Supreme People's Court, after appeals by the defendants were rejected and original death sentences upheld.
According to the court, the Ming family criminal group, led by Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, had since 2015 operated multiple crime compounds in Laukkai and surrounding areas of Myanmar's Kokang region, including Shiyuanzi and Qingshuihe. The group provided armed protection to telecom fraud syndicates and engaged in telecom fraud, illegal gambling and other criminal activities.
Authorities said the group recruited and sheltered multiple fraud ring leaders and facilitated large-scale telecom scams and gambling operations, with fraud- and gambling-related funds exceeding 10 billion yuan (about 1.44 billion U.S. dollars).
The Ming group also collaborated with other telecom fraud syndicates to carry out violent crimes, including intentional homicide, intentional injury and unlawful detention of fraud workers, resulting in the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and injuries to several others.
The Supreme People's Court found that Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, Wu Senlong, Fu Yubin and others had organized, led or participated in criminal groups committing a wide range of offenses, including fraud, operating casinos, intentional killing, intentional injury and unlawful detention.
The court said the crimes were particularly severe in nature, with grave consequences, and that the original verdicts were based on clear facts, sufficient evidence and lawful judicial procedures. It therefore approved the death sentences.
Following receipt of the execution orders, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in east China's Zhejiang Province carried out the executions in accordance with the law. The defendants' close relatives were allowed to meet with them prior to the executions.
Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to dismantle telecom fraud networks operating in northern Myanmar, following a joint crackdown launched by China and Myanmar in 2023.
China executes 11 members of Myanmar-based telecom fraud crime group
