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A China's judicial body has sentenced a group of top members of a well-known Burmese mafia to capital punishment as Chinese authorities continues its campaign on scam operations in South East Asia.

Altogether, twenty-one clan figures and partners were convicted of fraud, homicide, assault and other crimes, stated a state media document released on the judicial website.

This clan is among a few of syndicates that gained influence in the 2000s and changed the poor isolated region of Laukkaing into a wealthy center of casinos and nightlife areas.

Recently they pivoted to scams in which thousands of smuggled individuals, several of them from China, are caught, abused and forced to cheat others in illegal enterprises estimated at billions of dollars.

Information of the Verdict

Mafia head Bai Suocheng and his offspring the younger Bai were among the five figures sentenced to execution by the judicial body. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and Chen Guangyi were the remaining punished.

A couple of figures of the Bai family syndicate were given delayed executions. Five were sentenced to life imprisonment, while additional individuals were handed prison sentences ranging from several years to two decades.

This family, who led their own armed group, established 41 compounds to accommodate their cyberscam activities and casinos, authorities reported.

Extent of Unlawful Operations

Such illegal activities involved over 29bn Chinese yuan ($4.1bn; £3.1bn). These activities also caused the fatalities of six from China nationals, the suicide of one and numerous assaults, official sources announced.

The strict sentences handed down by the judicial body are part of China's initiative to eliminate the extensive scam rings in South East Asia - and deliver a strong message to other unlawful syndicates.

Context of the Clans

These families became dominant in the early 2000s with the assistance of a military leader - who now leads the country's junta. He had aimed to prop up partners in the town after replacing its previous leader.

Within the clans, the Bais were "the most powerful", the son previously told state media.

During that period, the clan was the leading in both the government and military spheres," the individual remarked in a documentary about the Bai family, aired on national media in July.

Within that film, a individual at their their scam centres narrated the abuse he had suffered at the location: besides being beaten, he had his nails extracted with pliers and two of his digits amputated with a tool.

More Accusations

Bai Yingcang is included in those who were sentenced to execution this week. The individual has also been independently sentenced of organizing to smuggle and manufacture 11 tonnes of methamphetamine, official sources announced.

Downfall of the Families

Their fall occurred in last year as political winds shifted.

Previously Chinese authorities has encouraged the regime to limit scam schemes in the area.

Recently, the authorities issued arrest warrants for the leading individuals of these clans.

Bai Suocheng, the clan's patriarch, was included in the individuals who were handed to China from the country in the beginning of the year.

For what reason is the authorities putting significant resources to target the groups?" a expert commented in the summer documentary.

The purpose is to caution groups, regardless of your identity, where you are, if you commit these heinous offenses targeting the citizens, you will face consequences."