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A Chinese judicial body has condemned a group of prominent figures of a notorious Burmese mafia to execution as Beijing persists in its efforts on scam activities in the region.

Altogether, twenty-one Bai family figures and partners were convicted of fraud, homicide, assault and additional crimes, stated a official announcement published on the court website.

The group is among a few of mafias that gained influence in the early 2000s and transformed the underdeveloped isolated region of the town into a wealthy base of casinos and red-light districts.

Over the past few years they shifted to illegal operations in which numerous of smuggled individuals, a large number of them from China, are caught, mistreated and obligated to scam targets in criminal activities worth billions of dollars.

Details of the Sentencing

Mafia leader Bai Suocheng and his son the younger Bai were among the group of figures given to capital punishment by the court in Shenzhen. Another individual, Hu Xiaojiang and A fourth person were the other three sentenced.

Two figures of the clan mafia were given suspended death sentences. Several were sentenced to life in prison, while additional individuals were handed prison terms ranging from a period of 3-20 years.

The Bais, who commanded their own private army, set up 41 facilities to accommodate their online fraud activities and casinos, government reported.

Extent of Illegal Activities

These illegal operations entailed more than 29 billion Chinese yuan ($4.1bn; £3.1bn). These activities also led to the demise of several Chinese individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and multiple injuries, official sources reported.

The harsh punishments delivered by the judicial body are within China's initiative to remove the extensive scam operations in South East Asia - and issue a strong signal to additional unlawful groups.

History of the Families

These families rose to power in the early 2000s with the help of a prominent figure - who now leads the country's military government. The leader had intended to bolster associates in the town after removing its earlier warlord.

Among the clans, the Bais were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang previously stated to official sources.

"At that time, our Bai family was the most powerful in each of the government and military spheres," he said in a documentary about the clan, broadcast on Chinese state media in the summer.

In the same report, a worker at their illegal operations recalled the harm he had suffered there: besides being hit, he had his fingernails removed with tools and two of his fingers severed with a blade.

Additional Charges

The son is included in those who were sentenced to death recently. He has additionally been independently convicted of conspiring to traffic and make eleven tons of methamphetamine, official sources stated.

Decline of the Groups

Their downfall occurred in last year as political winds shifted.

Previously Beijing has urged the Myanmar junta to rein in fraudulent operations in Laukkaing.

Recently, the authorities released legal actions for the most prominent figures of such families.

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

For what reason is the state putting significant resources to pursue the groups?" a official stated in the summer documentary.

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