China Executes 11 Members of Notorious Ming Family Crime Syndicate Over Murder, Internet Fraud and Trafficking
Chinese authorities have carried out the execution of 11 members of the infamous Ming family criminal gang, a syndicate linked to large-scale internet fraud, homicide and human trafficking operations in Myanmar, according to an official court statement.
The Wenzhou City Intermediate People’s Court confirmed the executions on Thursday, noting that the convicts were sentenced to death in September 2025 after being found guilty of multiple serious crimes, including illegal detention, online scam operations and the murder of 14 Chinese nationals.
Investigations revealed that the Ming family operated a vast cross-border criminal empire allegedly connected to mafia-style scam centres, prostitution rings and drug production networks along the China–Myanmar border, particularly in the Kokang region. Authorities said the syndicate controlled hundreds of illegal compounds used for online fraud and cybercrime activities.
Among those executed were Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming and Liao Jianzhang, all identified as key figures within the organisation. Reports indicated that some members of the group held influential positions within Myanmar’s political and security structures at various times.
Court findings showed that the criminal network generated over $1 billion in illicit revenue within eight years through coordinated cyber scams, extortion schemes and trafficking operations before arrests began. Two of the defendants had appealed their death sentences to the Supreme People’s Court of China, but the verdicts were upheld.
A former state parliament member linked to the family, Ming Xuechang, reportedly died by suicide while in custody before the executions were carried out. His son, Ming Guoping, and granddaughter, Ming Zhenzhen, were among those executed after being granted final family visits in line with judicial procedures.
The executions come after years of mounting complaints from families of trafficked workers and increasing international scrutiny over Southeast Asia cyber-scam hubs. Chinese authorities intensified operations in 2023, targeting large fraud compounds allegedly controlled by the Ming family.
One of the most notorious locations, known as “Crouching Tiger Villa” in Kokang, sat near the China-Myanmar border and was believed to house nearly 10,000 workers involved in coordinated online fraud schemes, according to investigative reports.
In November 2025, Chinese law enforcement agencies issued international arrest warrants for several members of the Ming network on charges ranging from fraud and murder to human trafficking, with bounty rewards reportedly ranging between $14,000 and $70,000 for credible information leading to arrests.
The case has drawn global attention due to its scale, cross-border implications and the growing concern over cybercrime, online scams and organised criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia. Analysts say the development signals Beijing’s continued hardline stance on financial crimes and transnational fraud networks affecting Chinese citizens and businesses.
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