Death sentences were delivered to 11 members from one of China’s most notorious mafia families today, believed to be behind one of Asia’s most brutal scam networks.

The Ming family, once rulers of the remote Myanmar town of Laukkai, turned the border hub into a base for telecom fraud, gambling, drug trafficking, and prostitution, with operations worth over US$1.4 billion.

On Monday, a total of 39 family members were sentenced, five received suspended death sentences, 11 got life, and others face up to 24 years in prison.

Chinese authorities say the gang also caused multiple deaths, including shooting scam workers to stop escape attempts.