Cambodia has extradited alleged scam boss Chen Zhi to China after months of cooperation with Beijing, calling the move a major but not final step in fighting transnational online fraud. Chen and his Prince Group are accused by U.S. authorities of running an enormous investment fraud operation; prosecutors say about $15 billion in bitcoin was seized and Prince Bank has been liquidated. Officials warn these fraud networks operate from large compounds across Southeast Asia and often exploit trafficking victims forced to commit online scams.
Cambodia Extradites Alleged Scam Kingpin Chen Zhi — Officials Say Crackdown Will Continue
FILE PHOTO: Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2025. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo
Cambodia's arrest and extradition of alleged scam network leader Chen Zhi to China marks a significant step in the region's fight against transnational online fraud, but authorities say the effort is far from over.
Last week's surprise detention of the Chinese-born businessman followed a joint China-Cambodia investigation whose details have not been publicly released. Chen — sanctioned by multiple governments and indicted in the United States on charges including wire fraud and money laundering — was handed over to Chinese authorities after Phnom Penh concluded that his Cambodian nationality was not legally obtained.
"It's a continued combat, and we have set measures and steps in order to eradicate this crime," Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told Reuters in a rare interview from Phnom Penh. He said formal cooperation with Beijing had been underway for months and stressed that Chen's extradition reflected Cambodia's firm commitment to tackling technology-enabled transnational crime.
Billionaire Conglomerate Accused Of Running Large-Scale Fraud
Chen, described by authorities as an enigmatic billionaire in his late 30s, is the founder and public face of the Prince Group, a Cambodia-based conglomerate with dozens of apparently legitimate businesses worldwide. U.S. prosecutors have alleged those companies were fronts for "one of the largest investment fraud operations in history." Prince Group denies the accusations.
International actions against Chen and related entities have been extensive: financial assets linked to Prince Group have been frozen in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan; Britain and South Korea have imposed sanctions; U.S. prosecutors say they seized about $15 billion in bitcoin connected to Chen; and Cambodian authorities have liquidated Prince Bank.
How The Scam Networks Operate
Investigators allege the fraud rings run sprawling compounds across Southeast Asia — including in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos — employing tens of thousands of workers. Many of those people are believed to be victims of human trafficking, lured with promises of legitimate jobs in technology or hospitality and then forced to commit online scams under threat of violence.
China's state media released footage showing Chen arriving in Beijing handcuffed and hooded, and described him as the leader of a major transnational gambling and fraud syndicate. Exact charges he will face in China have not been publicly disclosed.
Regional Cooperation And Next Steps
Prak Sokhonn emphasized Phnom Penh's "very close cooperation" with partners including China, the United States, South Korea and neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand. He described Chen's extradition as the result of a long investigation and reiterated that Cambodia will continue to pursue and prosecute transnational criminal networks that exploit new technologies.
Note on Name Variants: Some reports and quotes have used the name Chen Xi — this appears to be a transliteration or reporting variation. The principal name used in official statements and most reports is Chen Zhi.
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