Chen Zhi

Rule Changes

Extradited to China in January 2026; indicted in the United States

Cambodia extradited Li Xiong, former chairman of Huione Group, to China on April 2, making him the second senior figure removed. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic calls it the largest illicit online marketplace ever documented and traced more than $89 billion in cryptocurrency flowing through its platforms. The platforms allegedly laundered proceeds from romance scams, cyber heists, and North Korean state-sponsored theft.

Updated May 30

Force in Play

In Chinese custody, facing prosecution

For five years, Southeast Asia's scam compounds operated with near-impunity, generating an estimated $75 billion while trafficking hundreds of thousands of workers into forced labor. Then a Chinese actor got kidnapped in January 2025, and Beijing decided it had seen enough. Within twelve months, China extradited scam kingpins from Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar and sentenced crime family leaders to death. Beijing pressured regional governments into coordinated enforcement, transforming a tolerated nuisance into an existential threat.

Updated May 21