She Zhijiang, a Chinese national accused of running more than 200 illegal online gambling operations, is being extradited from Bangkok to China, Thai authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The 43-year-old, who also holds a Cambodian passport, was arrested in August 2022 on an international warrant supported by an Interpol red notice issued at Beijing’s request. Chinese authorities allege that She directed extensive illegal gambling operations and used them to launder money via bases in Myanmar.
Thai courts approved the extradition in May 2024, a decision that was upheld last week following an appeal from She’s legal team. Thai police described the suspect as a high-priority figure for China, noting the scale of his operations and cross-border criminal activity. She will face trial in China for operating illegal casinos and online gambling platforms, as well as exploiting Myanmar as a hub for these operations.
At the time of his arrest, She controlled a sprawling gambling and tourism complex valued at $15 billion, known as Shwe Kokko, situated on the Thai-Myanmar border. The United States Treasury Department has previously sanctioned nine companies and individuals connected to Shwe Kokko, citing links to regional scam networks and human trafficking operations. The complex is part of a broader pattern in Southeast Asia, where border regions of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia have become hubs for online fraud since the COVID-19 pandemic. UN reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these facilities, coerced into working in scam centres under exploitative conditions.
In tandem with She’s extradition, the US imposed new financial sanctions on a Myanmar militia group, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, along with four of its leaders and several entities connected to Chinese organised crime. The Treasury Department emphasized that these networks profit from online scams targeting Americans while contributing to human trafficking and fueling conflict in Myanmar. John Hurley, US Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that these actions reflect ongoing efforts to disrupt cybercriminal enterprises and protect citizens from exploitation.
She’s extradition represents a significant step in international cooperation against cross-border gambling fraud, online scams, and associated human-trafficking networks, highlighting the growing global focus on dismantling complex transnational crime operations.