Published on: February 2, 2026, at 11:59 AM.
Updated on: February 2, 2026, at 11:59 AM.
- China Carries Out Executions of Myanmar Organized Crime Family Members
- Patriarch Bai Soucheng Reportedly Deceased, According to State Sources
- Laukkaing Warlord Clan Linked to Fraud, Trafficking, and Gambling Activities
- Beijing Initiates Regional Offensive on Southeast Asian Fraud Operations
China has executed four individuals from the infamous Bai crime family, known for their dominance over the casino-centric town of Laukkaing in Myanmar’s lawless Shan state, as reported by state media.
The individuals executed were part of a larger group of 21 family members found guilty in November on charges including fraud, kidnapping, premeditated murder, running a casino, orchestrating prostitution, and smuggling operations. Some family members received suspended death sentences and lengthy prison terms. The family’s leader, Bai Soucheng, passed away shortly after he was sentenced to death, according to state media.
Chinese officials indicated that the criminal operations linked to the family involved approximately $4 billion and were associated with the deaths of at least six Chinese citizens. Bai was also separately convicted for plotting to manufacture and traffic 11 metric tons of methamphetamine.
Vice City Evolution
Bai transformed the formerly quiet border town of Laukkaing into a hotspot for gambling and illicit activities, later evolving it into a large-scale operations center for scams where thousands of trafficked individuals were forced into fraudulent schemes, raking in billions for organized crime.
A former deputy commander of an ethnic Kokang Chinese rebel force, Bai solidified his power by collaborating with Myanmar’s military government.
He effectively ruled Laukkaing through a private militia, enjoying substantial autonomy in a region historically dominated by ethnic armed groups in return for loyalty to the junta.
For an extended period, Beijing seemed ready to overlook Bai’s activities, likely due to his role in maintaining stability along the volatile Yunnan–Myanmar border. His reign minimized open conflict, reduced refugee influx into China, and facilitated cross-border trade, while not overtly challenging Chinese interests.
However, this leniency started to wane as Bai’s telecom fraud and human-trafficking operations surged, leading to rising domestic instability and public discontent within China.
Rebel Offensive
In November 2023, Chinese prosecutors issued warrants for Bai and his close allies. Shortly thereafter, ethnic rebel groups battling the junta raided Laukkaing, liberating trafficked workers and capturing members of the ruling crime families.
Bai and his kin escaped but were later apprehended by junta forces, alongside affiliates from the Ming crime family, and handed over to Chinese authorities. Just last week, 11 Ming family members faced execution, as Beijing sent a stark message to the growing network of fraud operations flourishing across Southeast Asia.
In China, executions are executed under the jurisdiction of the Supreme People’s Court, which mandates approval for all death sentences. The nation is believed to execute more individuals than the rest of the world combined, although exact statistics remain classified as state secrets.