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 illegal 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 Chinese authorities. He landed in Nanjing, according to the main Xinhua news firm.


"Chinese authorities made a demand for the suspect, who ´ s their top concern, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have supported," stated cops Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand ´ s Central Investigation Bureau. He added that China promised it will raise collaborations with Thailand to crack down on fraud centers.


She, a Chinese national thought to be 43 years of ages, also acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2017, and was active in Southeast Asian countries. He became popular after establishing 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 gaming sites that have actually included 330,000 individuals given that 2017, with deals surpassing 2.7 billion yuan ($380 million), while harboring 248 online fraud groups targeting Chinese citizens, according to Xinhua.


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


A 2024 report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime stated She "is known to have a robust service and financial investment portfolio across Southeast Asia, and particularly Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, covering across industries including realty, building and construction, home entertainment, and blockchain technology."


Cybercrime has actually flourished in Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is weak, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar. Casinos frequently worked as centers for online criminal activity, consisting of frauds, after the COVID-19 pandemic obstructed in-person gaming.


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


In action to Monday ´ s court judgment, a representative for She's company, called Yatai New City and often Asia-Pacific New City, described a previous statement that said "while Mr. She Zhijiang was included in the gambling industry, these activities were conducted under a lawfully gotten license in their operating jurisdiction, and were not hidden unlawful business." It said his function "is strictly that of a developer."


She Zhijiang, an alleged global crime kingpin accused by Beijing of having actually run illegal online betting operations, is 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)