close
Friday, January 30, 2026

China executes 11 Yahoo Boys part of Myanmar scam mafia 

The executions followed years of complaints by relatives of trafficked scam centre workers. 

, and • January 29, 2026
Cyber fraudster
Cyber fraudster [Photo Credit: FE Week]

China has executed 11 members of the notorious Ming family criminal gang, who were sentenced to death in September 2025 for homicide, illegal detention, and internet fraud, in Myanmar.

The Wenzhou City Intermediate People’s Court announced the executions in a statement on Thursday.

The suspects, among whom are Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang, held prominent positions within Myanmar’s ruling junta and ran hundreds of mafia-like scam centres involved in prostitution and drug production. They were also convicted of killing 14 Chinese citizens.

Two of the defendants, who were part of a crime syndicate worth over $1 billion in just eight years before their arrest and detention in 2013, appealed to the Supreme People’s Court, which upheld the verdict of the lower court.

While Mr Ming Xuechang, a former member of the country’s state parliament, had earlier killed himself in custody, his son, Ming Guoping, a leader in the junta-aligned Kokang Border Guard Force, and his granddaughter, Ming Zhenzhen, were among those executed, after their relatives were allowed to meet them one final time.

The executions followed years of complaints by relatives of trafficked scam centre workers and growing international media attention before Beijing authorities, in 2023, cracked down on the compounds run by family head Ming Xuechang.

One of the infamous compounds, called Crouching Tiger Villa in Kokang, is located on Myanmar’s border with China, and the group reportedly had about 10,000 workers carrying out fraudulent activities.

Authorities had, in November 2025, issued arrest warrants for members of the family over fraud, murder, and trafficking, while offering rewards of between $14,000 and $70,000 for their capture.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Diaspora

Lagos: Sanwo-Olu govt warns Christian pilgrims to Israel, Jordan against japa

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has charged intending Christian pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Jesus Christ and Lagos.

States

FG urges states to mobilise domestic funding for NTDs elimination

Mr Salako said that the control and elimination of NTDs remained an important element in Nigeria’s drive to attain UHC by 2030, achieve a disease-free SDG, and eradicate poverty.

States

Sokoto judiciary provides ICT training to high court personnel

The Sokoto judiciary has intensified capacity-building for its personnel in ICT strategies to enhance efficiency and service delivery.

Zacch Adedeji, Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman

Anti-Corruption

Nigerians warned no hiding place for tax evaders

Mr Oluwasola, who is also a managing partner of FINGOAL Consulting, described the new tax law as good despite some issues.

Politics

Zamfara SSG’s brother defects to APC

The PDP defectors commended the APC’s unity.

Politics

Kaduna: Gov Sani inaugurates new FRSC zonal office, commits to road safety

The governor said that Kaduna, as a major transit hub, depended heavily on the effectiveness of the FRSC.