Foreign

China Sentences 11 Ming Family Members to Death Over Myanmar Scam Empire

Published

1 year ago

September 30, 2025

A Chinese court sentenced 11 Ming family members to death for running scam centres in Myanmar’s Laukkai, exposing a billion-dollar fraud empire linked to trafficking and torture.

A Chinese court has sentenced 11 members of the Ming family to death for running vast scam centres in Myanmar, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The ruling marks one of the harshest crackdowns yet on cross-border criminal syndicates that have thrived along China’s frontier.

The Sentencing

On Monday, a court in Wenzhou, eastern China, handed down sentences to 39 members of the Ming family:

11 received death sentences
5 received death sentences with two-year suspensions
11 were jailed for life
The rest were given prison terms ranging from five to 24 years

The court found that since 2015, the Ming family and allied groups engaged in telecommunications fraud, illegal casinos, drug trafficking, and prostitution, generating more than 10 billion yuan ($1.4bn; £1bn).

Laukkai: From Backwater to Crime Hub

The Ming family was one of four powerful clans that transformed Laukkai, a small town in Myanmar’s Shan State near the Chinese border, into a hub for gambling, drugs, and scam centres.

Initially developed to exploit Chinese demand for gambling—illegal in China and many neighbouring countries—Laukkai’s casinos evolved into fronts for money laundering, trafficking, and online fraud operations.

The UN has described the phenomenon as a “scamdemic”, with more than 100,000 foreign nationals, many of them Chinese, lured into scam compounds where they were imprisoned and forced to run online fraud schemes targeting victims worldwide.

Human Cost and Brutality

The court also found the Ming family responsible for the deaths of several scam centre workers, including one incident where workers were shot to prevent them from returning to China.

At its peak, the Ming family controlled scam centres holding at least 10,000 workers. The most notorious was Crouching Tiger Villa, where workers were routinely beaten and tortured.

Collapse of the Ming Empire

In 2023, Myanmar authorities cracked down on the families, arresting many members and handing them over to China. The family patriarch, Ming Xuechang, reportedly killed himself during the crackdown.

Two years earlier, an alliance of insurgent groups had launched an offensive that drove the Myanmar military out of large parts of Shan State, including Laukkai. Analysts believe China tacitly supported the offensive, given its interest in dismantling the scam networks.

Thousands of trafficked workers have since been repatriated to China, with many scam operators making public confessions.

Regional Impact

China’s harsh sentencing signals its determination to dismantle the scam industry along its borders. Beijing has also pressured neighbouring countries to act, with Thailand launching raids on scam centres along its border with Myanmar earlier this year.

However, the business has proven resilient. While weakened in Myanmar, much of it has shifted operations to Cambodia, where scam compounds remain widespread.

Conclusion

The downfall of the Ming family underscores both the scale of the scam industry and the severity of China’s response. Yet with operations adapting and relocating, the so-called “scamdemic” remains a regional challenge, demanding coordinated international action.

Related Topics:chinacourt mingfamily myanmar scamcentres scamdemic telecomfraud

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Entertainment

Lil Durk Acquitted in Murder-for-Hire Case.

Published

1 month ago

September 13, 2026

Emmanuel Ikechukwu

Grammy-winning rapper Durk Devontay Banks, known as Lil Durk, has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case stemming from a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles. The incident resulted in the death of the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.

A Los Angeles jury deliberated for three days before finding the rapper not guilty on all five federal felony counts. Lil Durk had been accused of orchestrating a revenge plot against Tyquian Bowman (Quando Rondo) following the 2020 killing of Banks’ friend, Dayvon “King Von” Bennett. Prosecutors alleged Banks planned, ordered, and financed the operation, which ultimately led to the death of Bowman’s cousin, 24-year-old Saviay’a Robinson, during an ambush on August 19, 2022.

The defense maintained Lil Durk’s innocence, arguing that his former personal assistant, Kavon Grant, was responsible for the alleged scheme. Banks was arrested in 2024 and pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy, stalking with a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death, and two murder-for-hire-related counts. His co-defendants, Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but acquitted of other charges.

Following the verdict, supporters celebrated outside the Los Angeles courthouse. Defense lawyer Drew Findling stated that Banks was “thankful” for the acquittal.

Despite this acquittal, the 33-year-old rapper, who has achieved significant commercial success with seven top-five albums since 2019 and collaborations with artists like Drake and J. Cole, remains in custody. He faces a separate federal trial next month on racketeering, murder, and firearms charges, which could result in a life sentence if he is convicted.

Foreign

Netanyahu Warns Israel Will Not Tolerate Attacks On Its Soldiers

Published

4 months ago

June 19, 2026

Phinadon Mag

Quick Summary:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows strong retaliation against Hezbollah after four Israeli soldiers were killed, calling the attack a violation of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu Issues Strong Warning After Hezbollah Attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will not tolerate attacks on its soldiers, following the killing of four Israeli troops in a Hezbollah assault.

In a statement released on Friday, Netanyahu offered condolences to the families of a commander and three fighters killed by Hezbollah, describing the attack as a blatant violation of the ceasefire.

“We Won’t Tolerate Attacks On Our Soldiers”

Netanyahu said he had instructed the Israeli military to respond with full force against Hezbollah positions.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue to act decisively to thwart any threat to Israeli forces and territory.

Israel To Maintain Presence In Southern Lebanon

Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining a security zone in southern Lebanon, saying it was necessary to protect northern settlements from further attacks.

Background

The latest escalation follows months of cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire despite international calls for restraint.

The Israeli military has intensified operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has continued to launch rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel.

Analysts warn that the renewed hostilities could further destabilize the region and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore calm along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Foreign

Trump Condemns Israeli Attack On Beirut, Urges Restraint Amid Peace Talks With Iran

Published

4 months ago

June 14, 2026

Phinadon Mag

Quick Summary:
The U.S. President, Donald Trump criticizes Israel’s Sunday attack on Beirut, calling it unnecessary and urging all sides to maintain calm as Washington and Tehran near a peace deal.

United States President Donald Trump has said that Sunday’s attack on Beirut by Israeli forces “should not have happened.”

Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, following reports of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut.

The strike occurred at a time when the United States and Iran were reportedly close to finalizing a peace deal aimed at ending the crisis that began on February 28.

“The Attack Should Not Have Happened”

In his statement, Trump acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense but described the attack as unnecessary and counterproductive to ongoing peace efforts.

Trump noted that no casualties were reported and urged all parties to avoid further escalation.

Call For Restraint From All Sides

The U.S. President called on both Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities, emphasizing that restraint was crucial to achieving lasting peace.

He expressed optimism that the situation could mark the beginning of a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Context

The reported Israeli strike on Beirut came amid heightened regional tensions and diplomatic efforts led by Washington to broker a U.S.–Iran peace agreement.

Analysts say Trump’s remarks signal a renewed push for de-escalation as the administration seeks to stabilize the region and prevent further conflict.