Thailand has extradited She Zhijiang, the alleged mastermind behind Myanmar’s notorious scam city Shwe Kokko, to China, concluding a protracted legal battle and signaling a major step in Beijing’s crackdown on transnational cybercrime networks in Southeast Asia.
She Zhijiang, a 43-year-old Chinese national who also holds Cambodian citizenship, was handed over to Chinese authorities on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after a Thai appeals court upheld the extradition order. He had been detained in Thailand since 2022 following an Interpol red notice issued at China’s request, which accused him of operating illegal online gambling and fraud rings. The extradition occurred as Thailand’s king prepared for a landmark state visit to China, underscoring strengthened bilateral relations amid the high-profile case.
Born in a poor village in Hunan province, She left school at 14 and learned computer coding before moving into online gambling in the Philippines, an industry illegal in China. Over the years, he expanded his operations across Southeast Asia, with one of his most infamous projects being Yatai New City in Shwe Kokko, Myanmar. A Chinese court had previously convicted him in 2014 for running an illegal lottery, but he continued to build his empire, leveraging multiple citizenships and corporate entities to evade authorities.
Shwe Kokko is marketed as a glitzy resort city for Chinese tourists but is allegedly a hub for fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. Promotional materials depict high-rises and casinos, but investigations reveal that the site houses scam operations targeting victims worldwide. During a visit by the BBC earlier this year, few genuine tourists were observed, and local residents confirmed that fraudulent activities persisted, with workers often lured by fake job offers and trapped in coercive conditions.
The extradition process saw She arrive at Bangkok airport under heavy security, ending his legal appeals in Thailand. His attorney, Daniel Arshack, has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated and expressing fears that She would face torture and a lack of due process in China. Despite these claims, Thai courts dismissed his appeals, ordering his transfer within 90 days, a timeline that has now been fulfilled amid international scrutiny.
She and his company Yatai face sanctions from the United States and United Kingdom for their links to human rights abuses in scam centers. The U.S. Treasury has labeled Shwe Kokko a resort city built for gambling, drug trafficking, prostitution, and global scams, highlighting the scale of the operations. These sanctions reflect growing international concern over the proliferation of cybercrime hubs in conflict-ridden border regions of Myanmar and beyond.
Sprawling fraud factories in Southeast Asia have trapped hundreds of thousands of people, many of them Chinese nationals, according to UN estimates. Victims are often forced into executing romance and business scams that generate billions of dollars annually, facing brutal punishments if they resist. China has ramped up its crackdown, recently sentencing several individuals to death for involvement in criminal gangs with operations in Myanmar, aiming to curb the outflow of illicit activities that tarnish its image and harm its citizens.
The extradition of She Zhijiang marks a pivotal moment in regional efforts to combat organized cybercrime, potentially paving the way for increased cooperation between China and Southeast Asian nations. However, it also raises questions about legal fairness and human rights, as critics warn of risks in China’s judicial system. Moving forward, authorities may intensify raids on similar hubs, but addressing the root causes—such as poverty and conflict—will be essential to dismantling these networks sustainably.
