Thailand Extradites Chinese Suspect to China
Thailand on Wednesday extradited She Zhijiang, a Chinese national wanted by Beijing on suspicion of operating more than 200 illegal online gambling sites across Southeast Asia. The transfer followed a Thai appeals court ruling on Monday approving his return to China, more than three years after his arrest in Bangkok on a warrant Beijing issued in 2014.
Thai authorities said the extradition came at China’s request. "Chinese authorities made a request for the suspect, who’s their top priority, and asked Thailand for cooperation, which we have supported," said Police Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, chief of Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau. He added that China has pledged to step up joint efforts with Thailand to crack down on scam centers.
She, believed to be about 43 years old, also obtained Cambodian citizenship in 2017 and was active across several countries in the region. He first drew wide attention after developing a complex in Myanmar’s Shwe Kokko, near the Thai border, that international investigators say became notorious for online scam operations and for facilitating human trafficking.
The U.S. and U.K. governments have imposed sanctions on She for alleged criminal activity. A 2024 report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) described him as having a broad business and investment portfolio across Southeast Asia — particularly in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines — spanning real estate, construction, entertainment and blockchain ventures.
Authorities and international observers say cybercrime and online scams have flourished in parts of Southeast Asia where law enforcement is comparatively weak, notably in Cambodia and Myanmar. After the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed in-person gambling, casinos and certain border complexes frequently became hubs for online criminal networks.
Responding to Monday’s court ruling, a spokesperson for She’s company — known as Yatai New City or Asia-Pacific New City — reiterated a prior statement: 'While Mr. She Zhijiang was involved in the gambling industry, these activities were conducted under a legally obtained license in their operating jurisdiction and were not concealed illegal enterprises.' The spokesperson added that his role 'is strictly that of a developer.'
Thailand’s extradition highlights growing regional cooperation against cross-border cybercrime and scam syndicates. Chinese authorities are expected to pursue prosecution, and officials in the region have signaled closer coordination to dismantle networks that span multiple countries.
