Chinese authorities have executed four members of the Bai mafia family, one of the most influential clans in the Myanmar call center gang network, following the execution of 11 Ming family members just one week earlier.
Chinese state media reported that authorities executed four members of the Bai family, among the most powerful clans in Myanmar's call center gang network. This came after five members, including Bai Suocheng, the family leader, were sentenced to death in November. Bai Suocheng died of illness before the execution order was carried out.
The four executed family members were among 21 defendants convicted by a court in Guangdong Province for fraud, murder, assault, and other charges.
Last week, Chinese authorities also executed 11 members of the Ming family, another Myanmar call center gang clan, as part of efforts to dismantle large-scale online fraud and call center gangs in Southeast Asia that have scammed thousands of Chinese victims.
For years, the Bai family, the Ming family, and several other powerful clans controlled the border town of Laukkai in Myanmar by operating casinos, service establishments, and call center gang operations, disregarding the law.
The Bai family maintained their own armed forces and constructed 41 buildings used as casinos and call center operation hubs. Officials reported frequent violence and abuse occurring at these sites.
After his arrest, Bai Yingchang, son of Bai Suocheng, told the media that among the various families, the Bai family was "number one."
Court statements noted that the Bai family's criminal activities resulted in the deaths of six Chinese nationals, one suicide, and multiple injuries.
The Bai family rose to power in the early 2000s after the military operation led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's current military government leader, ousted local armed forces leaders in Laukkai. At that time, Min Aung Hlaing sought cooperative allies, and Bai Suocheng, who held power second only to the local militia leader, was the best choice.
However, the Bai family's heyday ended in 2023 when the Chinese government lost patience with the Myanmar military's failure to suppress call center gangs. China then supported armed groups to launch attacks, marking a turning point in Myanmar's civil war, leading to the mafia's dismantling and handover of members to Chinese authorities.
These events have been featured in a national documentary in China to emphasize the government's firm stance on eradicating call center gangs.
The recent executions signal that the Chinese government wants to warn anyone considering joining these criminal networks that China prioritizes their eradication and that all involved will face justice, regardless of mafia family influence.
According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands have been trafficked into call center gangs in Myanmar and other parts of Southeast Asia. Among them are thousands of Chinese victims, and the fraud losses, amounting to billions of dollars, have mostly affected Chinese nationals.
. BBC
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