ISTANBUL
Thailand on Wednesday extradited She Zhijiang, the alleged mastermind of a massive cross-border gambling syndicate worth over $380 billion, to China to face trial, according to local media.
The 43-year-old dual Chinese-Cambodian national was transferred from a Bangkok prison to Suvarnabhumi Airport in the country's capital under police escort before being handed over to Chinese authorities, the Bangkok Post reported.
Zhijiang is accused of running an online gambling network from Myanmar's Shwe Kokko special economic zone in Myawaddy province, near the Thai border. According to Shanghai Daily, the network processed transactions worth approximately 2.7 trillion yuan ($380 billion).
He was arrested by Thai authorities in August 2022 following an international warrant and an Interpol red notice issued at Beijing’s request.
A Thai criminal court approved his extradition in May 2024, a decision upheld earlier this week despite an appeal by his legal team.
The alleged tycoon's operation is one of the largest ever discovered in Southeast Asia, where authorities have increased efforts to dismantle online gambling and scam syndicates linked to human trafficking and cyber fraud.