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A Chinese judicial body has handed down death sentences to five top figures of a notorious Burmese organized crime group to execution as Chinese authorities continues its crackdown on scam networks in Southeast Asian region.

Altogether, 21 clan figures and partners were convicted of scams, murder, assault and various crimes, stated a official announcement released on the judicial website.

The group is among a few of organized crime groups that rose to power in the last two decades and changed the poor backwater town of the town into a lucrative center of casinos and entertainment zones.

In recent years they pivoted to scams in which many of trafficked individuals, a large number of them from China, are ensnared, abused and obligated to defraud others in criminal enterprises worth billions.

Details of the Verdict

Syndicate head Bai Suocheng and his son the younger Bai were included in the five individuals condemned to capital punishment by the court in Shenzhen. Another individual, A third figure and Chen Guangyi were the remaining sentenced.

Two members of the clan mafia were handed suspended death sentences. Several were sentenced to life imprisonment, while more figures were received prison sentences varying from three to 20 years.

The clan, who controlled their own militia, created forty-one facilities to host their online fraud operations and casinos, government said.

Scale of Illegal Operations

Such criminal activities involved exceeding 29bn yuan ($4.1bn; over three billion pounds). These activities also caused the fatalities of several from China nationals, the suicide of an individual and several assaults, reports announced.

The harsh sentences issued by the court are within the Chinese campaign to remove the vast scam rings in South East Asia - and send a firm warning to other illegal groups.

Background of the Families

These groups gained influence in the early 2000s with the help of a prominent figure - who is in charge of Myanmar's military government. The leader had intended to bolster partners in Laukkaing after ousting its previous leader.

Among the groups, the this family were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang previously informed state media.

"At that time, our Bai family was the leading in each of the political and armed spheres," the individual said in a documentary about the Bai family, broadcast on Chinese state media in July.

During the report, a worker at one of fraud facilities described the harm he had experienced at the location: besides being hit, he had his nails yanked out with instruments and a couple of his fingers cut off with a blade.

More Allegations

Bai Yingcang is among those who were given to death recently. The individual has also been independently sentenced of organizing to traffic and make eleven tons of methamphetamine, state media reported.

Decline of the Clans

The families' end came in last year as circumstances altered.

Previously Chinese authorities has urged the Myanmar junta to control scam operations in Laukkaing.

Last year, the authorities announced legal actions for the leading members of such groups.

Bai Suocheng, the clan's head, was among the individuals who were transferred to Beijing from Myanmar in recent months.

For what reason is the authorities making significant resources to pursue the clans?" a official said in the summer documentary.

This serves as a warning individuals, no matter your position, where you are, as long as you carry out these terrible crimes affecting the citizens, you will be held accountable."