China Extradites Alleged Scam City Mastermind She Zhijiang

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She Zhijiang, the Chinese-Cambodian businessman accused of orchestrating one of Southeast Asia’s largest online baccarat, gambling and scam operations, has been extradited from Thailand to China in what is being described as a major milestone in China’s crackdown on cybercrime networks and human trafficking linked to illegal gambling hubs.

Zhijiang, also known by aliases such as She Kailun, Dylan She, and Tang Kriang Kai, was arrested in Bangkok in August 2022 on an Interpol red notice that had been initiated by Beijing. After a prolonged legal battle in Thai courts, the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision to extradite She Zhijiang to China. He was escorted to Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 12, 2025, and then flown to China with an escort of Thai security officials.

She’s case has attracted attention from around the world due to his alleged involvement in the development of Shwe Kokko, a controversial urban development on the Myanmar-Thailand border in Kayin (Karen) State. It was marketed as a high-tech “smart city” and publicly promoted as a hub for tourism, technology, and entertainment. However, in reality, the area became infamous for illegal online gambling, money laundering, and human trafficking.

A Hidden Criminal Empire

At the center of She’s alleged empire was Yatai New City, which was developed by his Hong Kong-registered Yatai International Holdings Group. Promotional materials created a futuristic vision of urban prosperity, but several investigations have since exposed the city as a base for fraud and exploitation.

UN reports estimate that more than 120,000 people have been trafficked into scam centers such as Shwe Kokko across Myanmar and neighboring countries. The victims, many attracted by false job offers, were detained and coerced into running online scams that mainly targeted Chinese nationals.

In 2014, She was convicted in absentia by a Chinese court for operating an illegal online lottery scheme from the Philippines. That operation reportedly netted nearly $300 million by targeting gamblers in mainland China.

After fleeing the Philippines, She relocated to Cambodia and then Myanmar, where his gambling operations grew into a multinational enterprise involving more than 200 illegal online gambling platforms. According to China’s Ministry of Public Security, more than 330,000 Chinese citizens were tricked into using these platforms, which generated more than $370 million in illicit funds. Chinese authorities also linked his operations to 248 separate telecom fraud groups spread across 29 scam compounds.

Sanctioned by the UK and US Governments

She and his company have not only faced legal scrutiny from China but also international condemnation. The US and UK governments have sanctioned Yatai International Holdings and affiliated entities for their role in human rights abuses linked to scam compounds and trafficking operations in Southeast Asia.

The US Treasury Department recently imposed new sanctions against individuals and groups linked to scam operations in Myanmar. Among those targeted was the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a militia group that allegedly provided security for scam centers in areas under its control, including Shwe Kokko.

John Hurley, U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said,

“Criminal networks operating out of Burma are stealing billions of dollars from hardworking Americans through online scams. These same networks traffic human beings and help fuel Burma’s brutal civil war.”

A Lengthy Legal Battle

Throughout his detention in Thailand, She Zhijiang insisted that he was innocent. His legal team argued that the extradition process was unusual and unjust, but they did not provide specifics. She also claimed he had been mistreated in custody and was confined to a wheelchair. More controversially, he claims he once operated as a Chinese intelligence asset and that his arrest was politically motivated. He even warned that he might be killed if returned to China.

Despite his arguments, the Thai courts eventually agreed to China’s request. Officials in both countries praised the extradition of She Zhijiang to China as a triumph of bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Public Security said, “The successful extradition of She Zhijiang is a powerful response to the public’s demand for cracking down on cross-border gambling and fraud”.

Chinese authorities now intend to prosecute She for running illegal gambling enterprises, laundering money, and orchestrating mass telecommunications fraud.



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