BANGKOK, November 13, 2025 – In a major victory for international law enforcement, notorious Chinese organized crime boss She Zhijiang has been extradited from Thailand to China, ending a years-long manhunt for the man allegedly behind one of Southeast Asia's most infamous "scam cities."
She Zhijiang, a figure synonymous with the region's sprawling networks of human trafficking and cyber fraud, was handed over to Chinese authorities this week. His deportation follows a final ruling from a Thai appeals court, concluding a legal battle that had been ongoing since his arrest in August 2022.
The Architect of a Criminal Enclave
She Zhijiang is best known as the developer and de facto ruler of the Yatai New City (also known as the Asia-Pacific New City). This massive, multi-billion-dollar complex, carved out of the jungle at Shwe Kokko in Myanmar's conflict-ridden Kayin State, was promoted as a futuristic economic hub and tourist paradise.
However, international watchdogs, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), identified the city as a lawless sanctuary for transnational crime. The UNODC described the enclave as a "playground" and safe haven for:
Illegal Online Gambling
Vast Cryptocurrency Fraud
Human Trafficking
"Pig Butchering" Scams
Global Extortion Rings
The city, which operated with its own private security and practical impunity, became a black hole for criminal activity, targeting victims across the globe.
A City Built on Slavery
The Yatai New City's dark industry was built on a foundation of modern slavery. According to numerous reports and victim testimonies, thousands of people from across Asia including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines were lured to the complex with fraudulent job offers promising high salaries in tech, marketing, or customer service.
Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated. Victims were then imprisoned in dormitories, subjected to violence, and forced to work 16-hour days in online scam operations. Those who failed to meet quotas or resisted were reportedly beaten, electrocuted, or held for ransom.
This vast network of forced labor and sophisticated cybercrime led both the United States and the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on She Zhijiang and his associated companies. The U.S. Treasury cited the operation for its role in "human rights abuses, including trafficking and torture," as well as large-scale money laundering.
The Kingpin's Fall
She Zhijiang, who also holds a Cambodian passport, had been wanted by China for illegal gambling operations since 2012. He was living in Thailand when he was finally apprehended in 2022 on an Interpol Red Notice.
His extradition is seen as a seismic event in the regional crackdown on the "scamdemic." The fall of one of Southeast Asia's most powerful and protected criminal warlords sends a clear signal that the era of impunity for operators of these "scam cities" may finally be coming to an end.