She Zhijiang: Chinese Businessman Extradited Over Southeast Asia’s Largest Online Gambling and Fraud Operation

She Zhijiang, a 41-year-old Chinese national, is facing serious charges for allegedly leading one of Southeast Asia’s largest online gambling and fraud operations over the past decade. After being detained in Thailand since 2022, Zhijiang has officially been extradited to China. He arrived handcuffed at a Bangkok airport on Wednesday, accompanied by two security officials, according to the BBC.

### International Investigation and Extradition

The international inquiry into She’s activities began when his name surfaced in connections with illegal gambling rings and cyberscam hubs defrauding thousands of victims across China. The Chinese government has been requesting his extradition through Interpol for over three years, submitting multiple legal complaints involving fraud and illegal gambling.

### Accused of Controlling a ‘Pig-Butchering’ Scam Center

Born in 1982 in a rural village in Hunan province, China, She Zhijiang left school at 14 to learn computer programming. In his early 20s, he moved to the Philippines to join the online gambling industry, which is banned in China. By 2014, Zhijiang had already been convicted by a Chinese court for running an illegal lottery.

He expanded his operations across Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar—countries where the US Treasury claims he holds citizenship. Zhijiang’s business empire became especially prominent in Shwe Kokko, a city near the Thai border in Myanmar.

While promoters and bloggers have depicted Shwe Kokko as a luxury resort for Chinese tourists, reports reveal the city as a hub for fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. Zhijiang and his company, Yatai, have been sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the United States due to their links to human rights abuses associated with scam factories and online fraud operations. These sanctions target both financial transactions and corporate activities connected to She, aiming to disrupt his international network.

Zhijiang previously told the BBC from prison that Yatai would not knowingly participate in telecom fraud or scams. He admitted that Shwe Kokko was “completely open to anyone,” but denied involvement in the fraudulent activities infiltrating the city despite company policies.

### Arrest and Legal Proceedings

She Zhijiang was apprehended by Thai authorities in 2022 after China issued an Interpol red notice requesting his arrest. Following a Thai court’s approval this week, the extradition process will transfer him to Chinese custody, concluding a lengthy multi-year legal and diplomatic effort by China.

### Human Trafficking and Crypto Scam Factories in Myanmar

Survivors of the operations in Myanmar have told news outlet DW about the infamous “scam factories,” where trafficked workers are forced to deceive victims spanning China, the US, and Europe. These factories engage in “pig butchering”—a scam technique where forced laborers build trust with potential victims online, coaxing them into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms before shutting these platforms down after securing significant funds.

Lucas, a former employee of a facility known as KK Park in Karen State, Myanmar, described endured working conditions involving 17-hour shifts without breaks or holidays. Failure to meet deadlines or timely respond to clients often resulted in beatings or prolonged forced standing. He recalled, “If there is no client at noon, there
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/thailand-extradites-southeast-asian-gambling-and-scam-empire-kingpin-to-china/