She Zhijiang Extradited to China
She Zhijiang, a Chinese businessman accused of operating a sprawling illegal gambling and cyberscam network across Southeast Asia, has been extradited to China—ending his years-long legal battle against extradition.
Arrested in Thailand in 2022 on an Interpol red notice requested by China, She faced allegations of running large-scale online gambling operations. Earlier this week, a Thai court upheld the decision to hand him over to Chinese authorities. He was escorted by two security officials through Bangkok’s airport on Wednesday.
The extradition comes just ahead of a landmark state visit by Thailand’s king to Beijing — the first such visit by a reigning Thai monarch — underscoring the deepening ties between China and Thailand.
Accusations and Sanctions
China has accused She Zhijiang of operating illegal gambling rings and participating in regional scam networks. He is one of the most prominent figures linked to Southeast Asia’s vast cyberscam compounds, which have trapped thousands of Chinese nationals through forced labor and online fraud.
One of She’s most infamous projects is Shwe Kokko, a city near the Myanmar–Thailand border developed by his company Yatai International Holdings Group. Marketed as a luxury resort for Chinese tourists, it has been accused of harboring money laundering, human trafficking, and cybercrime activities.
Despite his denial of involvement, both the United States and the United Kingdom have sanctioned She and his company for their links to human rights abuses within these compounds.
Who Is She Zhijiang?
Born in Hunan province, China, in 1982, She left school at 14 and taught himself computer coding. He reportedly moved to the Philippines in his early twenties and began operating in the online gambling sector — an industry outlawed in China.
In 2014, a Chinese court convicted him of running an illegal lottery. Over time, She expanded his operations across Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. He also holds Cambodian and Myanmar citizenship, according to U.S. Treasury documents.
In an earlier interview from prison, She insisted that his company “never accepts telecom fraud or scams,” but admitted that Shwe Kokko was “open to anyone,” making it difficult to control who entered.
Growing Crackdown on Cybercrime
The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people are trapped in scam compounds across Southeast Asia. Many are Chinese citizens lured by fake job offers, only to be held captive and forced to defraud others under threat of torture or death.
Beijing has intensified its efforts to combat these operations, pressuring regional governments to dismantle such networks. Recently, China sentenced several leaders of criminal families involved in cross-border scams to death, highlighting its hardline stance on cybercrime.
FAQs
1. Why was She Zhijiang extradited to China?
He was extradited to face charges related to operating illegal online gambling and scam operations that targeted Chinese citizens.
2. What is Shwe Kokko City?
Shwe Kokko is a controversial development in Myanmar near the Thai border, promoted as a tourism city but widely accused of hosting cybercrime and human trafficking activities.
3. Which countries sanctioned She Zhijiang and his company?
Both the United States and the United Kingdom sanctioned She Zhijiang and his company, Yatai International Holdings, for their role in human rights violations linked to scam compounds.
4. How big is the cyberscam problem in Southeast Asia?
The UN estimates hundreds of thousands of people are enslaved or coerced in scam centers across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Many victims are Chinese nationals.
5. What does his extradition signify?
It marks a major step in China’s regional crackdown on cross-border crime and demonstrates closer security cooperation between Thailand and China.
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