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One Chinese court has condemned a group of leading individuals of a notorious Burmese organized crime group to death as Chinese authorities persists in its efforts on scam operations in Southeast Asian region.

In all, 21 Bai family members and associates were found guilty of fraud, homicide, injury and other crimes, reported a official report released on the judicial website.

This clan is one of a small number of organized crime groups that rose to power in the last two decades and changed the poor backwater town of the town into a lucrative base of casinos and nightlife areas.

Recently they pivoted to illegal operations in which numerous of smuggled individuals, several of them Chinese, are caught, abused and obligated to cheat targets in illegal activities worth billions.

Information of the Verdict

Syndicate head Bai Suocheng and his son the younger Bai were included in the five individuals sentenced to capital punishment by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the remaining sentenced.

Two individuals of the Bai family syndicate were received conditional death penalties. Several were condemned to life imprisonment, while additional individuals were given jail terms ranging from three to 20 years.

The clan, who commanded their own militia, set up 41 facilities to house their online fraud operations and betting establishments, officials reported.

Magnitude of Criminal Activities

These unlawful operations involved more than twenty-nine billion Chinese yuan (over four billion dollars; £3.1 billion). They also led to the demise of several Chinese individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and several injuries, state media reported.

The harsh sentences issued by the judicial body are part of China's effort to remove the vast scam rings in the region - and send a strong warning to other criminal groups.

History of the Groups

These families became dominant in the early 2000s with the support of a military leader - who now leads the country's military government. He had wanted to support associates in Laukkaing after replacing its former warlord.

Among the families, the this family were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang earlier told state media.

"At that time, we was the most powerful in each of the political and military circles," the individual said in a report about the clan, shown on official channels in July.

In the same film, a individual at one of their scam centres narrated the mistreatment he had suffered at the location: besides being beaten, he had his fingernails extracted with tools and a couple of his digits severed with a tool.

Further Allegations

Bai Yingcang is included in those who were sentenced to death in the latest ruling. He has also been separately found guilty of conspiring to smuggle and manufacture 11 tonnes of methamphetamine, state media announced.

Decline of the Families

Their downfall happened in last year as political winds shifted.

Previously Chinese authorities has pressed the regime to limit scam schemes in Laukkaing.

Last year, the Chinese police issued detention orders for the most prominent members of such families.

Bai Suocheng, the Bai family's head, was among the warlords who were extradited to Beijing from the country in early 2024.

"Why is the Chinese government making such extensive work to go after the four families?" a expert said in the summer documentary.

"It's to warn individuals, regardless of your identity, where you are, if you engage in these serious acts targeting the Chinese people, you will face consequences."