China has reported the deaths of four leaders of the ‘Bai’ cybercrime group, a family-linked network operating in Myanmar. The individuals were part of a wider crackdown that affected 21 family members and associates involved in cyber attacks, physical violence, and other criminal activities.

Last month, a court ruling sentenced the Bai family leader and four others to death, although reports suggest the leader may have survived, highlighting the ongoing complexity of the situation.

Authorities in the region have also targeted other criminal networks, including the ‘Ming’ organisation, which was linked to cyber trafficking centres in southern Southeast Asia. Eleven members of Ming were reportedly killed during these operations.

The Bai and Ming networks, along with other family-linked groups, have been implicated in human trafficking, illegal gambling, and cyber trafficking, affecting hundreds of individuals, including Ethiopians subjected to forced labour and exploitation. Over the past year, thousands of Ethiopians who were lured to these camps under the pretext of job opportunities in Thailand have returned to their homeland.