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A China's judicial body has sentenced five leading members of a well-known Burmese organized crime group to death as Beijing persists in its efforts on fraudulent networks in the region.

Overall, twenty-one Bai family members and associates were convicted of fraud, murder, assault and various crimes, stated a state media announcement posted on the court website.

The group is one of a few of mafias that rose to power in the early 2000s and converted the impoverished backwater town of Laukkaing into a wealthy base of gambling establishments and nightlife areas.

In recent years they turned to illegal operations in which thousands of smuggled individuals, a large number of them Chinese, are caught, abused and forced to scam others in criminal activities estimated at billions.

Details of the Sentencing

Mafia boss the patriarch and his son the younger Bai were included in the five figures given to execution by the judicial body. Another individual, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the other three convicted.

Two figures of the Bai family mafia were received suspended death sentences. Five were given to life in prison, while additional individuals were received jail sentences ranging from a period of 3-20 years.

The Bais, who commanded their own militia, created 41 facilities to accommodate their cyberscam activities and gambling houses, authorities stated.

Extent of Illegal Activities

These illegal activities entailed over 29bn Chinese yuan (over four billion dollars; £3.1 billion). They also led to the demise of six Chinese citizens, the self-inflicted death of one and multiple assaults, official sources stated.

The harsh sentences issued by the judicial body are within China's initiative to eradicate the large fraud networks in Southeast Asia - and deliver a strong message to further criminal groups.

Context of the Groups

Such groups became dominant in the 2000s with the assistance of Min Aung Hlaing - who now leads Myanmar's junta. The leader had wanted to bolster partners in Laukkaing after ousting its previous ruler.

Among the families, the this family were "the top", Bai Yingcang previously told official sources.

Back then, we was the most powerful in both the political and armed circles," the individual stated in a report about the Bai family, aired on national media in the summer.

During the report, a individual at a their scam centres narrated the abuse he had suffered there: besides being assaulted, he had his nails yanked out with tools and two of his digits amputated with a blade.

More Accusations

Bai Yingcang is included in those who were given to death recently. The individual has also been separately sentenced of planning to smuggle and make eleven tons of methamphetamine, official sources announced.

End of the Groups

Their downfall came in recent times as political winds altered.

For years Beijing has urged the regime to rein in fraudulent activities in the area.

Last year, the authorities released arrest warrants for the leading individuals of these clans.

The patriarch, the clan's patriarch, was included in the figures who were transferred to Beijing from the country in early 2024.

"Why is the Chinese government putting significant resources to target the groups?" a expert commented in the July report.

This serves as a warning individuals, no matter your identity, your base, as long as you commit these heinous crimes affecting the citizens, you will pay the price."