She Zhijiang, Accused Scammer, Extradited from Thailand to China

She Zhijiang, a Chinese national accused of building an illicit gambling empire in South East Asia, is being extradited to China - ending his years-long battle against the order.

He has been detained in Thailand since 2022, following his arrest by Thai police responding to a request from China via Interpol. China accuses She of operating illegal online gambling operations, and this week a Thai court upheld the extradition decision. He arrived at a Bangkok airport on Wednesday, escorted by security personnel.

This extradition also coincides with a historic visit by Thailand's king to Beijing, marking the first state visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch and indicating strengthening relations between the two countries.

She Zhijiang is at the center of a vast network of cyber scams in Southeast Asia, with reports indicating that the scope of these operations has ensnared thousands of Chinese nationals, prompting Beijing to initiate crackdowns on such crime rings.

One of his most infamous ventures is the establishment of Shwe Kokko city in Myanmar, portrayed as a resort town aimed at Chinese tourists. In reality, the city's glittering facade conceals activities ranging from fraud to human trafficking. During a recent BBC visit, it was noted that few tourists were present and illicit activities remained ongoing.

Despite being sanctioned by the UK and the US for his involvement in human rights abuses linked to these operations, She has previously claimed that his company does not condone scams. However, he also admitted that fraudsters could infiltrate the open city.

Born in 1982 in Hunan province, She achieved notoriety as he transitioned into online gambling, which is illegal in China. His operations expanded from the Philippines to Cambodia, where he has since acquired citizenship. Recent estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of individuals are trapped in similar scams across Southeast Asia, often under coercive conditions.