Thailand seizes over US$300 million in regional scam assets as global actions target Chen Zhi network
Thailand has confiscated more than US$300 million in assets linked to syndicates running vast scam centres across South-east Asia, part of a widening international operation targeting Cambodia’s Prince Holding Group and its founder Chen Zhi.
- Thailand seized more than US$300 million in assets linked to major regional scam networks, including items tied to Chen Zhi.
- The US, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Britain have collectively frozen hundreds of millions, with US authorities seizing US$15 billion in bitcoin.
- The crackdown targets alleged forced-labour scam compounds run across South-east Asia, though Prince Group denies any wrongdoing.
THAILAND: Thailand has seized over US$300 million in assets connected to criminal networks operating multibillion-dollar scam centres across the region, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on 3 December.
The seizures include individuals described as “among the big ones”, most notably Chen Zhi, the Chinese-born founder of Cambodia’s Prince Holding Group, a Cambodian senator, and two Thai nationals with alleged scam ties.
International Actions Trigger Regional Scrutiny
The announcement follows a coordinated wave of global actions.
In October, US authorities indicted Chen, accusing him of overseeing forced-labour scam compounds in Cambodia.
Washington also confiscated around US$15 billion in bitcoin, described as criminal proceeds from the network.
Thailand’s Breakdown of Seized Assets
Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office stated that it had seized about 100 items worth 373 million baht (approximately US$10 million) belonging to Chen, including cash, land and luxury goods.
Authorities also confiscated nearly US$15 million in assets from Cambodian senator Kok An, a known ally of former leader Hun Sen, and approximately US$290 million from two Thai suspects linked to regional scam operations.
Enforcement agencies in Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have also executed large-scale seizures—each reportedly as high as US$350 million—as part of coordinated efforts to dismantle the transnational scam empire.
In Britain, more than US$130 million in business and London property assets linked to Chen’s network were frozen.
Scam Compounds and Forced Labour Concerns
Scam hubs across South-east Asia frequently recruit workers under false pretences, with many later trafficked and confined to forced-scam operations.
Thailand stressed that those responsible “must be brought to justice”, reiterating its commitment to regional cooperation.
Prince Holding Group has denied that it or Chen committed any offences.
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