China Extradites and Detains Prince Group Chairman Chen Zhi: "Core Members to Be Wanted Soon"

Chinese Ministry of Public Security:
"Crime Syndicate Leader Chen Zhi Faces Charges of Operating Gambling Establishments and Fraud in Cambodia"

On January 8, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security announced that it had extradited Chen Zhi (38, Chinese national), Chairman of Prince Group, who has been identified as the mastermind behind a large-scale online fraud crime syndicate in Cambodia.

The Ministry of Public Security stated, "On January 7, with the support and cooperation of relevant Cambodian authorities, the Ministry dispatched a task force and successfully escorted and repatriated Chen Zhi, the ringleader of a major transnational gambling and fraud crime organization, from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, back to China."

The Ministry added, "According to the investigation, Chen Zhi's criminal organization is suspected of several crimes, including operating gambling establishments, fraud, illegal business activities, and concealing criminal proceeds. Currently, Chen Zhi has been subjected to compulsory measures (detention) in accordance with the law, and the related case is under further investigation."

A Ministry official stated, "In the near future, public security authorities will issue a wanted notice for the first group of core members of Chen Zhi's criminal organization, and will apprehend fugitives and bring them to justice. The authorities solemnly urge all criminals to recognize the situation clearly and surrender immediately in order to receive lenient treatment."

State-run China Central Television (CCTV) also reported scenes of Chen Zhi's face being revealed by police after disembarking from the airplane following his extradition.

Previously, on January 7 (local time), the Cambodian government announced in a statement that, as part of its cooperation to eradicate transnational crime, it had conducted an arrest operation on January 6, detaining three Chinese nationals-Chen Zhi, Xu Jiliang, and Xiao Jihu-and extradited them to China.

The scam crime syndicate spread throughout Southeast Asia, deceiving victims into participating in fake investment schemes and extorting money. Chairman Chen Zhi is reported to have amassed enormous wealth by expanding his business through close ties with high-level political circles in Cambodia and operating large-scale fraud crime syndicates.

In October of last year, the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Prince Group and Chairman Chen Zhi, stating that they operated criminal syndicates in Cambodia and other regions that extorted money from victims worldwide and tortured trafficked laborers. In November of last year, the South Korean government also imposed independent sanctions on Prince Group, Chairman Chen Zhi, 15 individuals, and 132 organizations.

At a briefing on January 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, "Eradicating online gambling and telecommunications fraud crimes is a shared responsibility of the international community. China has actively cooperated with countries such as Cambodia to crack down on cross-border telecommunications fraud crimes and has achieved significant results. China will further strengthen law enforcement cooperation with neighboring countries, including Cambodia, to safeguard the safety of people's lives and property, as well as the order of exchanges and cooperation among countries in the region."