Cambodia Extradites Alleged Crypto Scam Kingpin to China After Arrest

Cambodia has extradited a billionaire businessman accused of orchestrating a vast international cryptocurrency scam to China, marking a major development in regional efforts to dismantle transnational fraud networks operating across Southeast Asia.

Cambodian authorities said Chen Zhi, a Chinese national, was handed over to Chinese law enforcement following his arrest earlier this month as part of a coordinated investigation into large scale online scams. Chen was among three Chinese nationals detained on 6 January after months of joint intelligence and law enforcement cooperation targeting organised cybercrime rings operating in the region.

The Cambodian government described Chen as the alleged mastermind behind an operation that exploited trafficked workers forced to carry out online fraud targeting victims around the world. According to investigators, the scheme relied on sophisticated cryptocurrency platforms to move and conceal illicit proceeds, allowing billions of dollars in digital assets to be siphoned from unsuspecting victims.

Chen, 37, was born in southeast China and built a reputation as a wealthy entrepreneur with business interests spanning technology and digital finance. Authorities allege that behind this public image, he played a central role in coordinating scam operations based in Cambodia, where vulnerable workers were lured or coerced into working in heavily guarded compounds.

The case has drawn international attention because of its scale and brutality. Victims of the scam were targeted through fake investment schemes, romance fraud and impersonation tactics conducted via messaging apps and social media. At the same time, workers recruited to carry out the fraud were allegedly subjected to threats, violence and forced confinement if they failed to meet financial targets.

While Cambodia extradited Chen to China, the case also intersects with investigations in the United States. US authorities charged Chen last October, accusing him of running internet based scams from Cambodia that stole billions of dollars in cryptocurrency from victims worldwide. Those charges highlighted the global reach of the network and the difficulty of policing crimes that span jurisdictions and digital systems.

Cambodian officials said the extradition demonstrates the country’s commitment to cracking down on cybercrime and human trafficking. In recent years, Cambodia has faced mounting pressure from regional neighbours and international partners over the proliferation of scam centres operating within its borders. These operations have been linked to organised crime groups exploiting weak regulation and cross border loopholes.

China has also intensified its campaign against overseas fraud syndicates, working with governments across Southeast Asia to repatriate suspects and dismantle criminal infrastructure. Beijing has warned that online scams pose a serious threat to social stability and financial security, particularly as cryptocurrency use expands.

Human rights groups caution that while arrests and extraditions are necessary, they must be accompanied by protection and rehabilitation for trafficked workers. Many survivors report long lasting psychological and physical trauma after being forced to participate in scams under coercive conditions.

Analysts say Chen’s extradition could encourage further cooperation between countries affected by cyber fraud, but they note that the underlying drivers of the industry remain strong. High profits, digital anonymity and economic disparities continue to fuel the growth of scam networks.

As Chen faces prosecution in China, authorities across the region are under pressure to sustain enforcement efforts and address the conditions that allow such operations to flourish. The case stands as one of the most prominent examples to date of how cryptocurrency, organised crime and human trafficking have become tightly intertwined in the global digital economy.