Under the leadership of the Min family, this troubled town became a center for casinos and red-light districts, despite its initial poverty. However, in 2023, their criminal activities were halted when Myanmar authorities arrested family members and handed them over to China. This was part of a large-scale campaign prompted by pressure from Beijing, which is their main ally.
As a result of their fraudulent operations, thousands of Chinese citizens became victims—many of whom were illegally transported to these gambling establishments, where they were forced to deceive people outside the country.
Last year, a story emerged online in China about a little-known actor who traveled to Thailand for filming but ended up caught in a fraudulent network in Myanmar. These cases sparked discontent in Beijing, which has long demanded that Myanmar authorities take action against the criminal mafia.
According to the court ruling, the criminal activities of the Min family generated over 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion US dollars or 1 billion British pounds) from 2015 to 2023. As a result of their activities, 14 Chinese citizens died, and many others were injured, the court ruling reported.
