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 prohibited online betting operations.


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


"Chinese authorities made an ask for the suspect, who ´ s their leading concern, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have supported," said authorities Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand ´ s Central Investigation Bureau. He included that China assured it will elevate joint efforts with Thailand to punish scam centers.


She, a Chinese nationwide believed to be 43 years of ages, likewise acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2017, and was active in Southeast Asian countries. He became prominent after developing a complex in Myanmar ´ s Shwe Kokko city, near the Thai border, that is now notorious for online scam activities and human trafficking.


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


The U.S. and British governments enforced sanctions on She for his supposed criminal activities.


A 2024 report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime stated She "is understood to have a robust organization and investment portfolio across Southeast Asia, and especially Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, covering throughout industries including genuine estate, building, home entertainment, and blockchain innovation."


Cybercrime has actually flourished in Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is weak, particularly in and Myanmar. Casinos often acted as centers for online criminal activity, consisting of scams, after the COVID-19 pandemic hampered in-person gambling.


Governments across the world have started to take actions versus the sprawling market. On Wednesday the U.S. Treasury department announced sanctions versus the leaders of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army for their role in supporting the fraud centers. The ethnic militia group is linked to scam centers in Myanmar, just near Myawaddy, where She ran.


In response to Monday ´ s court ruling, a representative for She's business, called Yatai New City and in some cases Asia-Pacific New City, described a previous statement that said "while Mr. She Zhijiang was associated with the gambling industry, these activities were performed under a lawfully acquired license in their operating jurisdiction, and were not hidden unlawful enterprises." It stated his role "is strictly that of a developer."


She Zhijiang, a supposed 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)