On January 7, with the full cooperation of relevant Cambodian authorities, a working group from the Ministry of Public Security successfully apprehended Chen Zhi, the head of a major cross-border gambling and fraud syndicate and founder of the Prince Group, in Cambodia. He has been repatriated to China. Currently, Chen Zhi has been placed under coercive measures in accordance with the law, and the relevant case is under further investigation. This news immediately attracted widespread attention online, marking another significant achievement in China-Cambodia law enforcement cooperation and bringing about the final reckoning for this transnational criminal scourge that has entrenched itself in Southeast Asia for many years. Some may ask, who is Chen Zhi? Behind this name lies a bloody criminal network disguised as a "business empire." From Internet Cafe Manager to "Cambodian Duke": His Rise to Power Was All Blood and Ashes. Public records show that Chen Zhi, born in 1987, hails from Lianjiang, Fuzhou, Fujian. He dropped out of school as a teenager to make a living, working as an internet cafe manager. This experience led him to the gray market of the internet, where he accumulated his "first pot of gold" by operating private game servers and building a hacker team to attack websites. After arriving in Cambodia in 2009, he sensed a "business opportunity" and built the Prince Group in six years, with businesses covering real estate, finance, hotels, and other sectors, resembling a "multinational entrepreneur." To pave the way for his criminal activities, Chen Zhi spared no expense in bribing public officials in various countries, even acquiring Cambodian citizenship and obtaining the title of "Duke," the highest honor. He also served as a special advisor on economic affairs to the Cambodian Prime Minister. These prestigious titles and identities became his "camouflage" to conceal his crimes, allowing his criminal network to expand unchecked throughout Southeast Asia. Beneath the glamorous exterior of the Prince Group lies a meticulously structured criminal machine. Chen Zhi lured hundreds of ordinary people to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs, detaining them in at least 10 closed "fraud zones" surrounded by high walls and barbed wire. Through torture and illegal detention, they were forced to participate in "pig butchering" scams. Victims who refused were brutally beaten, and some deaths were even reported. To expand the scale of the scams, Chen Zhi's gang also created "phone farms," stockpiling 1,250 mobile phones in just two locations and controlling 76,000 social media accounts. They used these fake identities to build emotional connections with victims online, then lured them with promises of "high returns on cryptocurrency investments" to trick them into transferring money. Once the funds were in their accounts, the victims' accounts were immediately emptied, and countless people's retirement savings, medical expenses, and tuition fees vanished. Even more appalling, Chen Zhi's criminal network also built a money laundering system covering more than 30 countries, utilizing the anonymity of cryptocurrencies to transfer illicit funds. The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Prince Group of being "one of the largest transnational criminal organizations in Asia," and Chen Zhi of being the mastermind behind this criminal empire. Global Manhunt: Multinational Coordination Freezes Billions in Assets, Chen Zhi's Escape is Impossible. Justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent. As early as 2020, Chinese public security authorities launched an investigation into the Prince Group, cracking multiple cross-border gambling cases related to the group in Beijing, Sichuan, and other places, involving a total of 5 billion yuan. In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice formally indicted Chen Zhi on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, and seized approximately 127,271 bitcoins, worth a staggering $15 billion (approximately 106.9 billion yuan) at the time. This was the largest seizure operation in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice. Following the US action, multiple countries around the world acted simultaneously: the UK froze 19 luxury homes belonging to Chen Zhi in Kensington, London (valued at US$172 million); Singapore seized six of his properties and related financial assets, totaling over S$150 million (approximately RMB 820 million); Hong Kong and Taiwan also froze HK$2.75 billion and NT$4.5 billion in assets related to the case, respectively, and seized numerous luxury cars and properties. A comprehensive global manhunt effectively ended Chen Zhi's escape. Cambodia's shift in stance became a crucial turning point. After Prime Minister Hun Manet issued an order to "completely eradicate telecom fraud," Cambodia launched an unprecedented crackdown, ultimately capturing Chen Zhi on January 6, 2026, and repatriating him at China's request. It is worth noting that the King of Cambodia had previously issued a royal decree revoking Chen Zhi's Cambodian citizenship, completely stripping him of his "protective shield." The repatriation of Chen Zhi to China is not an isolated case; it carries multiple profound implications. It is a milestone in deepening China-Cambodia law enforcement cooperation and a significant achievement in the global effort to combat cross-border telecom fraud. First, this achievement demonstrates China's firm resolve and all-encompassing operational capabilities in combating cross-border telecom fraud, shattering criminals' illusions of "avoiding punishment abroad." In recent years, my country has continuously improved its legal system for combating cross-border fraud, relying on the Anti-Telecommunications and Internet Fraud Law. Under the framework of the "Cloud Sword" operation, public security organs nationwide have continuously and deeply carried out special operations such as "breaking cards," "cutting off flows," and "uprooting nails," constantly strengthening the crackdown and punishment efforts to create a powerful deterrent effect. A comprehensive network for combating fraud has been established, targeting both domestic supply chains and overseas ringleaders. Secondly, the successful investigation of this case provides a replicable practical model for international cross-border anti-fraud cooperation. Cross-border telecom fraud is characterized by its organization, industrialization, and cross-border nature. Differences in the legal systems of different countries have historically been a major challenge in combating it. However, the close cooperation between China and Cambodia through information sharing, joint analysis, and coordinated arrests has efficiently facilitated the repatriation of suspects, demonstrating that multilateral law enforcement cooperation is a key path to solving the challenges of cross-border crime governance. As Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, combating online gambling and telecom fraud is a shared responsibility of the international community. This case has also encouraged more countries to join the cross-border anti-fraud cooperation camp, injecting positive energy into maintaining regional exchange and cooperation order. Furthermore, the core objective of this case has always been the recovery of stolen assets and mitigation of losses. The simultaneous freezing of Chen Zhi's billions of yuan in assets by multiple countries demonstrates a clear focus on "cutting off the financial lifeline," which not only maximizes the recovery of losses for victims but also eradicates the economic soil that breeds telecom fraud, curbing its spread at its root. At the same time, the precise strike against a "bigwig" like Chen Zhi sends a strong signal to society that "the net of justice is wide and its meshes are fine," creating a powerful deterrent to potential criminals and building a solid defense for purifying social atmosphere and safeguarding financial security. It is reported that the Ministry of Public Security will soon issue arrest warrants for the first batch of key members of Chen Zhi's criminal gang, resolutely bringing fugitives to justice. This purge of the billions-yuan black market empire has only just begun. Let us wait and see, hoping for a fair judgment from the law and for more victims to receive due compensation. The capture and repatriation of Chen Zhi is the ultimate response of justice to evil, and a vivid demonstration of the power of the state to safeguard people's livelihoods and safety. From the downfall of the "Four Major Families" in northern Myanmar to the collapse of Chen Zhi's criminal group, the series of cross-border anti-fraud achievements in recent years are inseparable from the strong promotion at the national level and the concerted efforts of the international community. This also proves that any attempt to trample on the law and infringe upon the interests of the masses will ultimately pay a heavy price. For ordinary people, this case is also a profound lesson in anti-fraud awareness, reminding us to always be vigilant, maintain a clear understanding of temptations such as "high-paying overseas recruitment" and "high-return investments," and safeguard the first line of defense for our own property security. There are no bystanders in cross-border fraud prevention. Only through the concerted efforts of the entire society, by proactively learning anti-fraud knowledge and actively reporting fraudulent clues, can we gather a powerful force to combat crime and jointly safeguard our beautiful lives. Let anti-fraud awareness take root in people's hearts, leaving no place for evil to hide!
Kikyo
Catherine
Weatherly
Anais