Thailand Extradites A Suspect In Illegal Gambling Operations To China

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand on Wednesday extradited a Chinese male wanted by Beijing on suspicion of running over 200 prohibited online gambling 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 . He landed in Nanjing, according to the main Xinhua news firm.


"Chinese authorities made a demand for the suspect, who ´ s their leading priority, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have actually supported," stated authorities Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand ´ s Central Investigation Bureau. He added that China assured it will elevate joint efforts with Thailand to punish rip-off centers.


She, a Chinese national believed to be 43 years old, likewise acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2017, and was active in Southeast Asian nations. He became prominent after establishing a complex in Myanmar ´ s Shwe Kokko city, near the Thai border, that is now infamous for online rip-off activities and human trafficking.


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


The U.S. and British federal governments imposed sanctions on She for his supposed 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 especially Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, spanning throughout markets including genuine estate, building and construction, entertainment, and blockchain technology."


Cybercrime has thrived in Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is weak, specifically in Cambodia and Myanmar. Casinos typically served as centers for online criminal activity, including scams, after the COVID-19 pandemic hindered in-person gambling.


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


In response to Monday ´ s court ruling, a spokesperson for She's business, called Yatai New City and often Asia-Pacific New City, referred to a previous declaration that stated "while Mr. She Zhijiang was involved in the betting market, these activities were conducted under a lawfully obtained license in their operating jurisdiction, and were not concealed prohibited enterprises." It stated his role "is strictly that of a designer."


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