Death Sentences for 11 Triad Leaders Running Illegal Casinos in China

China cracks down on notorious Ming triad family empire
Rebels stormed Laukkaing, freeing trafficked scam center workers
Beijing shifts stance, once tolerated warlords now prosecuted

In a landmark ruling, a court in Wenzhou, eastern China, sentenced eleven members of the notorious Ming triad family responsible for operating scam centres and illegal casinos that targeted Chinese citizens from across the Myanmar border to death. This decision reflects a dramatic shift in Beijing’s approach toward organized crime, previously overlooked in the region.

Crime justice — Image by Sunriseforever from Pixabay

The Ming family’s criminal operations were headquartered in Laukkaing, a city in Myanmar’s semi-lawless Shan State. Since 2015, they have been involved in various illegal activities, including telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, with an estimated value of around $1.4 billion according to Chinese state media.

The court’s findings indicated that the family, alongside other criminal enterprises, was responsible for the deaths of several workers from scam centres. Reports state that some workers were even killed to prevent them from escaping back to China.

Triad Warlords

Among those sentenced were Ming family heads Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, and Zhou Weichang. In addition to the death sentences, another five received death penalties with a two-year suspension, while eleven were imprisoned for life, and twelve others received sentences ranging from five to twenty-four years.

The Ming family had ties to three powerful triad warlords: Bai Suocheng, Wei Chaoren, and Liu Zhengxiang. These warlords controlled Laukkaing and the adjacent Kongyang Township, effectively turning it into a hub for illegal gambling and trafficking.

Under triad control, Kokang transformed from a tranquil area into a bustling casino hotspot where workers—mostly ethnic Chinese—were exploited, bought and sold, and subjected to brutal treatment if they failed to meet financial expectations or attempted to escape, according to The Washington Post.

The three families maintained a sense of autonomy in the region, a known stronghold for ethnic rebel groups, in exchange for their support of the military regime in Myanmar.

Rebel Assault

In November 2023, ethnic rebels fighting against the military junta stormed Laukkaing, liberating trafficked workers and capturing members of the ruling triad families. This bold move may have been motivated by the issuance of arrest warrants for key triad figures by Chinese authorities, signalling a shift in alliances.

Prior to this, the Beijing government had cooperated with the warlords, viewing them as strategic partners for cross-border trade; however, their growing excesses became increasingly intolerable.

The warlords were forced to flee as the rebels advanced, eventually being apprehended by junta forces shortly afterward. Due to these warrants, the regime had little choice but to surrender them to Chinese authorities.

As of now, Bai is on trial in Shenzhen, whereas the fates of Wei and Liu remain uncertain.

Key Takeaways

The Ming triad family was deeply embedded in illegal gambling and other criminal activities, showcasing a large-scale organized crime operation.
Chinese courts are now taking a firm stance against such criminal enterprises, marking a significant policy shift.
Ethnic conflicts and rebel activities in Myanmar complicate the interactions between local crime and state governance.
The engagement of international authorities (China and Myanmar) reflects the complexity of policing cross-border crime.

In conclusion, the sentencing of the Ming triad members represents not only a crackdown on organized crime but also highlights the changing dynamics between local authorities and criminal organisations. This case underlines the need for continued vigilance against rampant illegal activities that exploit vulnerable populations.