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One Chinese judicial body has sentenced a group of top figures of an infamous Myanmar organized crime group to death as Chinese authorities maintains its crackdown on scam activities in Southeast Asian region.

In all, 21 clan figures and partners were found guilty of fraud, homicide, assault and other offenses, reported a state media document released on the court website.

The family is among a handful of mafias that rose to power in the last two decades and converted the impoverished isolated region of Laukkaing into a profitable base of casinos and entertainment zones.

In recent years they pivoted to illegal operations in which thousands of smuggled individuals, several of them Chinese, are ensnared, abused and obligated to cheat victims in unlawful operations valued at billions.

Details of the Sentencing

Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his offspring Bai Yingcang were included in the five figures condemned to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the additional sentenced.

A couple of members of the clan syndicate were handed delayed executions. Several were condemned to life imprisonment, while more figures were handed jail sentences between several years to two decades.

This family, who led their own militia, set up 41 compounds to house their cyberscam operations and casinos, authorities stated.

Scale of Criminal Activities

Such illegal operations included over twenty-nine billion yuan (over four billion dollars; £3.1bn). They also caused the fatalities of six from China individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and numerous harm, official sources reported.

The harsh punishments issued by the court are a component of the Chinese effort to remove the extensive fraud networks in Southeast Asia - and issue a firm message to other unlawful syndicates.

Background of the Families

These clans rose to power in the recent decades with the help of Min Aung Hlaing - who now leads the country's regime. The leader had wanted to bolster associates in the town after removing its earlier leader.

Among the families, the Bais were "absolutely number one", the son previously informed official sources.

"At that time, our Bai family was the leading in both the government and military circles," the individual remarked in a documentary about the Bai family, shown on national media in July.

In the same report, a employee at their their scam centres narrated the mistreatment he had suffered at the location: in addition to being beaten, he had his nails extracted with tools and a couple of his digits cut off with a tool.

More Allegations

Bai Yingcang is included in those who were sentenced to death in the latest ruling. He has also been separately found guilty of planning to smuggle and manufacture a large quantity of methamphetamine, official sources announced.

Decline of the Families

Their end occurred in recent times as circumstances altered.

Previously Chinese authorities has urged the local government to limit scam schemes in the area.

In 2023, the authorities announced detention orders for the most prominent figures of such groups.

The patriarch, the Bai family's leader, was among the warlords who were handed to Beijing from the country in recent months.

For what reason is the Chinese government making such extensive work to target the clans?" a official stated in the July film.

"It's to warn individuals, regardless of who you are, your base, when you engage in these serious crimes affecting the citizens, you will pay the price."