Thailand Extradites A Suspect In Illegal Gambling Operations To China

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand on Wednesday extradited a Chinese guy desired by Beijing on suspicion of running over 200 unlawful online gaming operations.


A Thai appeals court on Monday authorized sending She Zhijiang back to China, more than 3 years after his arrest in Bangkok on a 2014 warrant from Chinese authorities. He landed in Nanjing, according to the official Xinhua news company.


"Chinese authorities made an ask for the suspect, who ´ s their top concern, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have supported," stated police Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand ´ s Central Investigation Bureau. He included that China guaranteed it will elevate collaborations with Thailand to split down on scam centers.


She, a Chinese nationwide thought to be 43 years old, likewise acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2017, and was active in Southeast Asian nations. He became popular after developing a complex in Myanmar ´ s Shwe Kokko city, near the Thai border, that is now infamous for online fraud activities and human trafficking.


China ´ s Ministry of Public Security said he ´ s desired for running betting websites that have involved 330,000 people given that 2017, with deals exceeding 2.7 billion yuan ($380 million), while harboring 248 online fraud groups targeting Chinese citizens, according to Xinhua.


The U.S. and British federal governments imposed sanctions on She for his alleged criminal activities.


A 2024 report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said She "is known to have a robust organization and investment portfolio across Southeast Asia, and particularly Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, covering throughout markets consisting of real estate, construction, entertainment, and blockchain technology."


Cybercrime has actually flourished in Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is weak, specifically in Cambodia and Myanmar. Casinos often worked as centers for online criminal activity, including frauds, after the COVID-19 pandemic hindered in-person betting.


Governments throughout the world have actually started to do something about it against the stretching market. On Wednesday the U.S. Treasury department revealed sanctions versus the leaders of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army for their function in supporting the scam centers. The ethnic militia group is connected to fraud centers in Myanmar, simply near Myawaddy, where She operated.


In response to Monday ´ s court judgment, a spokesperson for She's company, called Yatai New City and in some cases Asia-Pacific New City, referred to a previous declaration that stated "while Mr. She Zhijiang was associated with the gaming industry, these activities were carried out under a legally gotten license in their operating jurisdiction, and were not concealed prohibited enterprises." It said his function "is strictly that of a designer."


She Zhijiang, an alleged global criminal offense kingpin accused by Beijing of having run prohibited online operations, is escorted by police at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand's Samut Prakarn province ahead of being extradited to China, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)