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One Chinese judicial body has handed down death sentences to five top figures of a well-known Myanmar mafia to execution as Beijing persists in its efforts on fraudulent operations in South East Asia.

Altogether, 21 clan members and associates were sentenced of scams, homicide, assault and additional crimes, said a state media announcement published on the court website.

This clan is among a few of organized crime groups that gained influence in the 2000s and converted the underdeveloped remote area of Laukkaing into a lucrative base of gambling establishments and red-light districts.

Recently they turned to illegal operations in which thousands of trafficked individuals, several of them Chinese, are caught, mistreated and forced to cheat others in illegal enterprises worth billions.

Specifics of the Verdict

Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among the five individuals given to execution by the court in Shenzhen. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and Chen Guangyi were the remaining convicted.

Two figures of the clan syndicate were given delayed executions. Several were condemned to permanent incarceration, while additional individuals were received jail sentences varying from three to 20 years.

The clan, who led their own militia, created 41 compounds to host their cyberscam schemes and casinos, officials reported.

Scale of Illegal Schemes

These unlawful operations entailed over 29 billion Chinese yuan ($4.1bn; £3.1 billion). They also caused the fatalities of six Chinese nationals, the self-inflicted death of an individual and numerous injuries, state media announced.

The strict sentences issued by the court are a component of China's initiative to eradicate the large fraud networks in Southeast Asia - and send a firm message to additional criminal syndicates.

Context of the Groups

Such clans became dominant in the early 2000s with the support of a prominent figure - who currently heads Myanmar's regime. The leader had intended to support partners in the town after removing its earlier leader.

Among the groups, the this family were "absolutely number one", the son earlier informed state media.

Back then, our Bai family was the dominant in both the government and military spheres," the individual said in a report about the Bai family, aired on Chinese state media in July.

In the same documentary, a individual at their their scam centres narrated the mistreatment he had experienced there: besides being hit, he had his fingernails yanked out with pliers and two of his digits cut off with a tool.

Further Allegations

The son is among those who were condemned to death this week. The individual has also been separately found guilty of organizing to traffic and make 11 tonnes of narcotics, reports reported.

Downfall of the Families

Their end came in last year as situations changed.

For years Beijing has encouraged the Myanmar junta to control scam operations in Laukkaing.

Last year, the Chinese police issued arrest warrants for the most prominent figures of such families.

The patriarch, the clan's patriarch, was included in the warlords who were extradited to China from the country in recent months.

For what reason is the Chinese government making so much effort to pursue the four families?" a official said in the summer film.

The purpose is to caution individuals, regardless of your identity, your base, if you engage in such serious crimes targeting the nationals, you will pay the price."