Cambodia extradites alleged scam mastermind to China after arrest

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 7, 2026 at 07:28 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Cambodia extradited Chen Zhi, a Chinese billionaire accused of masterminding a vast cryptocurrency scam, to China on Wednesday after his arrest on January 6th. Chen, also sanctioned by the UK and indicted by the US in October, allegedly ran internet scams from Cambodia that defrauded victims globally, stealing billions in cryptocurrency. The US Treasury Department seized approximately $14 billion in Bitcoin allegedly belonging to him. Chen, who previously held Cambodian citizenship, is accused of running forced labor camps where trafficked workers were made to defraud people online. Chinese authorities have also been investigating Chen's Prince Group since 2020 for alleged involvement in online fraud schemes.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Myanmar 30% Thailand 30% Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau 40% Xu Ji Liang 40% Shao Ji Hui 40% UN 40% United States ×260% China ×370% Prince Group ×470% Cambodia ×780% Chen Zhi ×790%

Keywords

cryptocurrency scam 100% chen zhi 90% cambodia 80% extradition 80% china 80% human trafficking 70% forced labor 70% online fraud 60% prince group 60% money laundering 50%