Scam Kingpin Chen Zhi Arrested in Cambodia and Extradited to China

After a long period on the run, Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group, was arrested in Cambodia on January 6, 2026, and subsequently extradited to China for investigation and prosecution.

Chen Zhi, based in Cambodia, is the founder and chairman of the Prince Group, which has been accused by multiple countries, including the U.S. and U.K., of using legitimate businesses in real estate, finance, and gambling to mask large-scale transnational online fraud and money laundering. The U.S. Department of Justice previously indicted him on charges of telecom fraud and money laundering, freezing approximately 127,271 bitcoins (worth over $14 billion USD) and multiple overseas assets. The group is accused of operating fraud centers across Southeast Asia, running so-called “pig-butchering” investment scams, and deceiving investors while also allegedly engaging in forced labor and human trafficking, with victims in over 30 countries.

Before his arrest, Chen Zhi maintained a high-profile public image through charitable donations and political-business connections, even obtaining Cambodian citizenship and serving as an advisor to government officials. However, after Cambodia amended its laws in 2025 to allow the revocation of his citizenship, authorities withdrew his nationality at the end of the year and began action. Cambodian police stated that Chen and two other Chinese nationals were arrested at the request of Beijing and swiftly extradited to China, part of cooperative law enforcement between China and Cambodia. Chinese authorities indicated they would issue arrest warrants for Chen and his core criminal network and prosecute him for fraud, illegal gambling, and concealment of illicit gains.

Multiple countries’ law enforcement agencies have coordinated operations, including the U.K., South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, freezing or seizing assets related to the Prince Group to combat fraud and money laundering. The progress of Chen Zhi’s investigation in China, as well as international prosecution and compensation for victims, will serve as key indicators of global law enforcement cooperation and financial regulation.