Wanted Gambling Kingpin She Zhijiang Extradited to China After Legal Battle

She Zhijiang was extradited to China after a three-year legal battle in Thailand.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned She’s gambling empire, linked to fraud and trafficking networks.

Cross-border crime in Southeast Asia, including human trafficking and cybercrime has surged.

She Zhijiang, a notorious gambling kingpin, has been extradited from Bangkok to China after a lengthy legal battle. The 43-year-old Chinese national, who also holds a Cambodian passport, was arrested in August 2022 based on an international arrest warrant. According to a report by Reuters, Thai authorities had received a red notice from Interpol, issued by China, accusing She of running illegal online gambling operations. After over three years of legal proceedings, a Thai court upheld his extradition, which was executed on Wednesday.

Legal Struggles and Court Rulings

She’s extradition follows multiple legal challenges. In May 2024, a Thai criminal court ordered his extradition to China. His defense team appealed the decision, but the ruling was confirmed by another Thai court on Monday. Thai police confirmed the extradition, with Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej stating that the case was a high priority for China.

She led a huge illegal betting operation that encompassed the $15 billion Shwe Kokko complex at the Thai-Myanmar frontier. The online casinos and gaming activities of this complex made it really unpopular and notorious. In September 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nine companies and people related to Shwe Kokko because these had been identified as part of the rip-off schemes and the trafficking network that operated in the region. Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia were not only marked by the presence of such illegal operations but also the trafficking of people and cybercrimes.

Extradition Process and International Cooperation

China played the most notable role in the extradition of She. In his visit back to China, a Chinese airplane was dispatched to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. Zhao Mengtao, a counselor in the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, was grateful to the Thai authorities in helping. He went further to mention that the extradition was an action towards the strengthening of the Sino-Thai alliance in the war against gambling and organized crime.

On the other hand, She’s lawyer, Sanya Eadjongdee, referred to the extradition as a “strange” procedure but did not provide any further explanation. Notwithstanding the legal situation, She still asserts his innocence and denies the accusations against him. He is awaiting trial in China, where the government claims he was running illegal gambling sites, laundering money, and using Myanmar as a conduit for these activities.

Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia have been experiencing online fraud and other illegal activities to a larger extent since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations reports that the criminals have made billions of dollars from these illegal activities, while the needy have been suffering the most as they are pushed into slavery and traded.