Thailand Extradites A Suspect In Illegal Gambling Operations To China
BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand on Wednesday extradited a Chinese male desired by Beijing on suspicion of running over 200 unlawful online betting operations.
A Thai appeals court on Monday sending She Zhijiang back to China, more than 3 years after his arrest in Bangkok on a 2014 warrant from Chinese cops. He landed in Nanjing, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
"Chinese authorities made an ask for the suspect, who ´ s their top concern, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have supported," said cops Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand ´ s Central Investigation Bureau. He included that China promised it will raise collaborations with Thailand to punish rip-off centers.
She, a Chinese national believed to be 43 years old, also gotten Cambodian citizenship in 2017, and was active in Southeast Asian countries. He ended up being popular after establishing a complex in Myanmar ´ s Shwe Kokko city, near the Thai border, that is now well-known for online fraud activities and human trafficking.
China ´ s Ministry of Public Security said he ´ s wanted for running betting websites that have actually involved 330,000 people because 2017, with deals going beyond 2.7 billion yuan ($380 million), while harboring 248 online scams groups targeting Chinese citizens, according to Xinhua.
The U.S. and British federal governments enforced sanctions on She for his alleged criminal activities.
A 2024 report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime stated She "is known to have a robust organization and investment portfolio throughout Southeast Asia, and especially Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, covering across industries including realty, building and construction, home entertainment, and blockchain innovation."
Cybercrime has grown in Southeast Asia, where police is weak, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar. Casinos often acted as centers for online criminal activity, including scams, after the COVID-19 pandemic hampered in-person betting.
Governments across the world have started to do something about it against the sprawling industry. On Wednesday the U.S. Treasury department announced sanctions against the leaders of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army for their function in supporting the scam centers. The ethnic militia group is linked to rip-off centers in Myanmar, just near Myawaddy, where She ran.
In reaction to Monday ´ s court ruling, a representative for She's business, called Yatai New City and often Asia-Pacific New City, described a previous statement that said "while Mr. She Zhijiang was associated with the gaming market, these activities were carried out under a lawfully gotten license in their operating jurisdiction, and were not hidden illegal enterprises." It stated his function "is strictly that of a designer."
She Zhijiang, an alleged multinational criminal offense kingpin accused by Beijing of having run unlawful online betting operations, is escorted by authorities at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand's Samut Prakarn province ahead of being extradited to China, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)