Investigators recently announced they had uncovered a large mafia ring. According to local media, many citizens provided the authorities with tips because they had simply "had enough of the gangs".

Last month, several of the accused were sentenced to death. And this week, the so-called "godmother" -- Xie Caiping -- was sentenced to 18 years in jail. The 46-year-old is said to have run a whole network of illegal gambling dens and to have kept 16 young lovers.