In August 2022, She Zhijiang was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, following the issuance of an international warrant and an Interpol Red Notice by Beijing. She Zhijiang was accused of orchestrating illegal gambling centers through his company, Yatai International Holdings Group, and allegedly engaging in fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. Following his arrest in 2022, She mounted a vigorous legal defense against extradition, claiming that handing him over to China could expose him to political persecution or harsh treatment. Thai courts ultimately rejected his appeals, with both the criminal and constitutional courts affirming that the extradition was lawful, resulting in his extradition to China on November 12, 2025.
She Zhijiang (43) being escorted by police at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, November 12, 2025 (Reuters: Thanaphon Wuttison)
The extradition of She Zhijiang illustrates both the promise and complexity of addressing transnational crimes in Southeast Asia. While it demonstrates the effectiveness of regional cooperation and legal frameworks in holding high-profile criminals accountable, the case also underscores the minuscule impact it has on dismantling the structural conditions that allow criminal networks to survive, including weak regulatory oversight, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and the growing influence of digital platforms in illicit economies.
As Southeast Asia continues to crack down and coordinate operations focusing on greater scam center hubs like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, with the help of international organizations like ASEANAPOL, it demonstrates the necessity of combining law enforcement with regulatory oversight and victim protection initiatives. While arrests and prosecutions disrupt operations temporarily, sustainable progress depends on addressing the root causes that allow these networks to thrive: porous borders, corruption, lack of legal protections for vulnerable communities, etc.