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One Chinese court has handed down death sentences to a group of leading figures of an infamous Myanmar organized crime group to execution as Beijing continues its crackdown on fraudulent operations in South East Asia.

In all, 21 Bai family figures and partners were convicted of scams, murder, assault and various crimes, said a state media document published on the judicial website.

This clan is one of a handful of organized crime groups that became dominant in the last two decades and changed the underdeveloped remote area of Laukkaing into a wealthy base of gambling establishments and red-light districts.

Recently they pivoted to scams in which many of trafficked individuals, many of them from China, are trapped, mistreated and compelled to scam others in criminal activities estimated at billions.

Specifics of the Judgment

Syndicate leader Bai Suocheng and his heir Bai Yingcang were included in the group of men given to execution by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Another individual, A third figure and Chen Guangyi were the other three sentenced.

A couple of figures of the Bai family mafia were handed suspended death sentences. Several were condemned to life in prison, while nine others were received prison sentences varying from three to 20 years.

The clan, who controlled their own private army, set up 41 facilities to host their online fraud schemes and gambling houses, government reported.

Scale of Criminal Schemes

These illegal activities involved more than 29bn yuan ($4.1 billion; £3.1bn). These activities also led to the deaths of several from China individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and several harm, state media stated.

The harsh penalties issued by the court are a component of the Chinese initiative to eliminate the vast fraud operations in South East Asia - and issue a stern signal to other illegal organizations.

Background of the Groups

Such families became dominant in the recent decades with the assistance of Min Aung Hlaing - who now leads Myanmar's regime. The leader had intended to support partners in Laukkaing after ousting its former warlord.

Among the families, the Bais were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang before informed state media.

During that period, we was the most powerful in both the government and armed circles," he stated in a film about the Bai family, aired on official channels in the summer.

Within that documentary, a worker at one of fraud facilities recalled the harm he had suffered there: in addition to being assaulted, he had his nails extracted with pliers and a couple of his digits amputated with a kitchen knife.

More Accusations

The son is included in those who were sentenced to execution this week. He has additionally been separately convicted of planning to traffic and manufacture 11 tonnes of narcotics, state media reported.

Decline of the Groups

The families' downfall happened in recent times as circumstances changed.

For years Chinese authorities has encouraged the local government to control scam activities in the area.

In 2023, the Chinese police announced detention orders for the most prominent figures of such families.

The patriarch, the clan's head, was among the figures who were handed to Beijing from the country in recent months.

"Why is the state making so much effort to go after the clans?" a official said in the summer report.

This serves as a warning individuals, no matter your position, where you are, if you engage in such heinous crimes against the nationals, you will be held accountable."