Cambodia has arrested and extradited Chen Zhi, the alleged mastermind behind one of Asia’s largest scam rings, according to a statement from the country’s interior ministry.
The ministry said three Chinese nationals—Chen Zhi, Xu Ji Liang and Shao Ji Hui—were detained earlier this week after months of cooperation with Chinese authorities and have been extradited to the People’s Republic of China.
It said the operation was conducted “within the scope of cooperation in combating transnational crime”, citing a request from China. The statement added that Chen’s Cambodian citizenship had been revoked.
Chen, 38, is accused of running multiple online scam centres in Cambodia via his company Prince Group, where trafficked workers were allegedly forced to carry out crypto investment fraud targeting victims worldwide.
Aside from crypto scams, the group is also alleged to have operated an extensive online gambling network.
The report noted that the US Department of Justice charged Chen in October with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and filed a civil forfeiture complaint involving 127,271 seized bitcoin worth around US$15 billion.
It also said Chen and Prince Group—who have denied all allegations—have been sanctioned in the UK, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Chen was born in Fujian in 1987, moved to Cambodia in 2010 and became a Cambodian citizen in 2014, it added.
The report also referenced the extradition of another gambling figure, She Zhijiang, from Thailand to China in November, as Beijing continues its push against such activities across Southeast Asia.
