Cambodia has extradited billionaire businessman Chen Zhi to China, accused of masterminding a vast cryptocurrency scam that lured trafficked workers into forced labor camps, according to Cambodian authorities.
Chen Zhi was arrested alongside two other Chinese nationals on January 6 during a joint investigation into transnational crime that had lasted several months. U.S. authorities charged the 37-year-old last October, claiming he orchestrated internet scams from Cambodia that have stolen billions in cryptocurrency. The UK also imposed sanctions on his global business conglomerate, Prince Group.
Cambodian officials have suspended operations at Prince Bank, a subsidiary of Prince Group, and the bank is now under liquidation while customers may still withdraw funds and repay loans. This further develops the ongoing investigation that saw U.S. authorities seize about $15 billion worth of bitcoin allegedly belonging to Chen.
Chen's whereabouts became unclear after his indictment on fraud and money laundering charges last October. However, recent Cambodian statements confirm his arrest and extradition, in a move that follows the revocation of his Cambodian nationality last month.
The U.N. reports that hundreds of thousands have been trafficked into Southeast Asia, with many forced into online scams under severe threats. People are kept against their will, made to defraud victims online, with the majority of these victims located in China.
The Chinese government has been investigating the Prince Group since at least 2020, marking it as a significant entity in a multinational online gambling syndicate based in Cambodia.
Historically, the Cambodian elite has maintained close ties to Chen Zhi, and the government has remained relatively quiet since the U.S. and UK sanctions were imposed, urging these authorities to ensure they had solid evidence against the accused businessman.
By some analyses, scam operations are believed to account for approximately half of Cambodia's economy, highlighting the extensive reach and the serious allegations surrounding Chen Zhi's business practices.
