Cambodia’s recent arrest and extradition of alleged scam network leader Chen Zhi to China marks a significant step in the Southeast Asian nation’s campaign against trans-border crime, but the government emphasized that the operation is far from over.
Chen, a Chinese-born businessman in his late 30s, was detained last week in a move described by Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as part of an ongoing effort to dismantle sophisticated criminal networks that defraud victims worldwide of billions of dollars.
“It’s a continued combat, and we have set measures and steps in order to eradicate this crime,” Prak Sokhonn said in an interview from Phnom Penh. “The fact that Chen was arrested and extradited to China is just reflecting this firm commitment of Cambodia to combat the crime. And it’s not the end of the combat.”
Chen heads the Prince Group conglomerate, a sprawling enterprise headquartered in Cambodia with numerous businesses across Asia and beyond. While the group presents itself as legitimate, U.S. authorities have labeled it “one of the largest investment fraud operations in history,” accusing Chen of wire fraud and money laundering.
Last year, the Prince Group rejected these claims as unfounded. Despite this, several governments have acted against Chen and his businesses. Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan have frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in assets linked to the conglomerate, while Britain and South Korea imposed sanctions. U.S. prosecutors seized approximately $15 billion in bitcoin tied to Chen, and Cambodia has shut down the Prince Bank he founded.
Although the details of the investigation leading to Chen’s arrest have not been disclosed, Prak Sokhonn confirmed that Cambodia had been cooperating with Beijing for months. Chinese authorities have described Chen as the “leader of a major transnational gambling and fraud crime syndicate” and accused him of operating illegal casinos and extensive online scams. Last week, state media broadcast video of Chen arriving in Beijing, handcuffed and hooded.
The scams allegedly run by Chen’s network employ tens of thousands of people in massive compounds across Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Victims include individuals coerced into participation under false pretenses of legitimate employment in industries such as technology and hospitality. Some are reportedly human trafficking victims forced to scam strangers online, often facing brutal punishment if they refuse.
The extradition highlights Cambodia’s intensified cooperation with countries including China, the United States, South Korea, and regional neighbors Vietnam and Thailand in tackling transnational crime. “This is the result of a long investigation,” Prak Sokhonn said, noting that Chen’s Cambodian nationality was revoked after authorities determined it had not been legally obtained, confirming his Chinese citizenship.
Chen’s arrest and extradition come amid a broader effort to dismantle online scam networks in Southeast Asia, which have drawn increasing scrutiny in recent years. Analysts say the operations are often highly sophisticated, blending legitimate-seeming businesses with criminal activity to target global victims.
While the exact charges Chen will face in China remain unclear, authorities have established a special task force to investigate the Prince Group since 2020, according to Chinese court documents from 2022. Experts suggest that his case could serve as a warning to other alleged operators of transnational fraud networks in the region.
Cambodia’s action also underscores a growing recognition in Southeast Asia of the need to combat crimes involving emerging technologies, from online investment scams to illegal gambling platforms. For Prak Sokhonn, Chen’s extradition is only a milestone in a longer campaign.
“This is not the end,” he reiterated. “Cambodia remains fully committed to eradicating transnational crimes, especially those exploiting technology, and we will continue to work closely with our international partners to achieve that goal.”
