A recent attack by Myanmar rebels has resulted in the removal of the Chinese Mafia from a casino town.
Posted on: November 23, 2023, 03:01h.
Last updated on: November 23, 2023, 03:01h.
A group of insurgents in Myanmar’s partially unregulated Shan State has raided the border city of Laukkaing, overthrowing the dominant Chinese organized crime syndicate that has operated its casinos and fraudulent businesses for an extended period of time.
The Kokang autonomous region of Shan state, Myanmar, specifically the town of Laukkaing, has been turned into a hub for gambling by influential Chinese mafia members who have support from the military government. However, it seems that their reign may soon come to an end. (Image: Frontier Myanmar)
According to Al Jazeera, a coalition of three local ethnic groups and pro-democracy activists has gained control of significant towns near the Chinese border following the outbreak of violence in late October. They have also disrupted trade routes. The insurgents have expressed their objective of putting an end to the oppressive military regime in Myanmar, previously known as Burma.
In Laukkaing, individuals who were being trafficked at fraudulent call centers have been released and leaders of the “five ruling families” – Chinese criminal bosses – have been apprehended and turned over to Chinese authorities. These families were granted significant power in the area in exchange for their backing of Myanmar’s military regime. However, they now find themselves aligned with the wrong faction.
Trafficked Workers Killed
The Chinese government has shared photos of law enforcement officers detaining a man and woman, known as Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, at the border gate. They are the son and granddaughter of notorious crime boss Ming Xuechang, who is said to have died while in custody.
Ming would have been a target for the rebels. On October 20, a large group of trafficked workers were being transferred from Ming’s scam center complex in Laukkaing, known as Crouching Tiger Villa.
A number of individuals attempted to flee and were subsequently shot at by Ming’s security personnel, resulting in fatalities as reported by multiple sources. There are also indications that the shooting may have involved Chinese undercover officers.
The event led Chinese officials to release warrants for the arrest of multiple Ming family members. This could have been the triggering factor for the rebellion.
The Chinese government has officially backed the ruling military regime, which took control in 2021, but their relationship has become strained. It is doubtful that the uprising would have been able to take place so near the border without China’s implicit consent. This is unfortunate for both the military regime and the casino leaders it shielded.
The Emergence of Powerful Mafia Leaders
For many years, the area has been a strong base for ethnic insurgents. Prior to 2009, Laukkaing was under the command of Peng Jiasheng, a rebel leader. However, the former government sought to place their own supporters in the chaotic region and supported a rebellion led by Peng’s second-in-command, Bai Suocheng.
Peng was banished to China and passed away at the age of 91 last year. In contrast, Bai was given free reign to make profits from casinos as a reward for his allegiance to the Myanmar government. This included attracting Chinese tourists from neighboring countries.
He rose to the position of leader in the larger Kokang self-governing area and head of five influential families. Under his leadership, this group engaged in activities such as money laundering, drug and human trafficking, and the establishment of large-scale scam operations.
According to Chinese state media, there is an unverified report from a rebel source stating that Bai was apprehended on November 17 while trying to escape the area and is currently in the custody of the Myanmar military.
