Alleged Chinese Scam Leader Extradited from Thailand to China

An alleged Chinese racketeer, She Zhijiang, known for his connections to a major scam operation in Myanmar, was extradited from Thailand to China on November 12, 2023. This move follows a lengthy legal battle that began when She was arrested in Thailand in 2022 after evading Chinese authorities for over a decade.

The extradition was confirmed by a police official in Bangkok, who stated that a Thai appeals court had upheld China’s request for She’s extradition earlier this week. She, who also holds Cambodian nationality, was escorted from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport around 16:30 local time, handcuffed and accompanied by heavily armed Thai police, a protocol that is not commonly observed.

Connection to Scam Operations

According to an Interpol red notice published in May 2021, She faces multiple criminal charges in China linked to his alleged role in online gambling and fraud operations. His company, Yatai, has already been sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom. Washington claims that She played a pivotal role in transforming a village on the Myanmar-Thai border into Shwe Kokko, described as a “resort city” tailored for gambling, drug trafficking, and various scams targeting individuals globally.

Shwe Kokko has gained notoriety as one of the primary hubs for illegal activities in Myanmar’s border regions, particularly since civil unrest has escalated in the country since 2021. These areas are notorious for housing internet fraud factories, employing workers—some of whom are trafficked—to perpetrate romance and business scams that are estimated to defraud victims of billions of dollars each year.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

In letters written from prison and reviewed by AFP, She has denied all allegations, asserting that his business was merely engaged in urban development. His attorney, Daniel Arshack, characterized the charges against She as “fabricated,” expressing concerns that once in China, She could face a lack of due process, potential torture, and the risk of “disappearance.”

She’s Thai lawyer, Sunya Eadjongdee, declined to provide further comments on the extradition, citing the confidentiality of the matter. The extradition occurs against a backdrop of increasing international scrutiny regarding scam operations, particularly those targeting Chinese nationals. A recent report by the United Nations indicated that scam victims in Southeast and East Asia alone lost up to US$37 billion in 2023, with total global losses likely much higher.

In a broader effort to combat these scam hubs, China has intensified its international pressure campaigns. Earlier this month, Beijing sentenced five individuals to death for their involvement in a violent criminal gang operating within Myanmar’s Kokang region, underscoring the severity of the crackdown on such illicit activities.

The extradition of She Zhijiang marks a significant step in addressing the complex web of organized crime that has proliferated in the region, raising questions about the future of similar operations and the safety of individuals lured into these illicit enterprises.