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Scams and swindles
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Regional cooperation led to arrest of alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi

The cross-border nature of his alleged criminal network required governments and law enforcement agencies to work together

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This undated photo shows Chen Zhi (centre), who is accused of running a crime network from Cambodia, amid his extradition to China. Photo: Handout
SCMP Editorial
Editorials represent the views of the South China Morning Post on the issues of the day.
Catching transnational criminals and neutralising their networks requires international cooperation. That may have been the lesson of Chen Zhi, whose alleged brazen criminal activities have shocked people and made global headlines. Now, the accused has been caught and extradited by Cambodia to China. Hong Kong authorities have frozen HK$2.75 billion (US$353 million) in assets belonging to Chen and his numerous businesses, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Chen and his alleged criminal enterprise have been accused of running scam centres in Cambodia and Myanmar by using fake adverts to lure jobseekers who were then confined in forced-labour camps to commit online fraud under threat of violence and torture. He was among three Chinese nationals extradited by Cambodia at China’s request. Phnom Penh said law enforcement from both countries had worked on the case – a welcome development.

Chen founded Prince Holding Group, which has been designated by the US Treasury Department as a “transnational criminal organisation”, and was allegedly involved in scams, telecoms fraud, human trafficking, torture, money laundering and illegal online gambling. The group has been described as one of Cambodia’s largest corporations, with companies spanning real estate, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages and lifestyle. It’s extraordinary that Chen and his cronies were able to conduct their alleged criminal empire for so long and on such a scale.

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