Publication Date: November 12, 2025, 04:33h.
Updated on: November 12, 2025, 04:33h.
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Thai officials have sent Chinese gambling mogul She Zhijiang back to China to answer for allegations of orchestrating unlawful online gaming and fraudulent schemes in Myanmar.
She heads the Hong Kong-based Yatai International Holdings Group, which oversees the project of Yatai New City, also referred to as Shwe Kokko, located in Myanmar’s less regulated Kayin (Karen) State.
Initially marketed as a Singapore-like innovative center, the scheme aimed to create a “smart city” that would incorporate elements of technology, gambling, entertainment, tourism, culture, and agriculture, according to the project’s proposals.
However, it has emerged as a notorious hub for casinos, illicit online gambling, scam activities, and human trafficking, as reported by multiple sources.
Approximately 120,000 individuals in Myanmar have been victimized by criminal organizations and coerced into working in scam operations and other online businesses linked to She, as highlighted in a UN report published in November 2023.
Who is She Zhijiang?
Known by various names including She Kailun, She Lunkai, Dylan She, and Tang Kriang Kai, She was found guilty in absentia in 2014 by a Chinese court for managing an unlawful lottery scheme from the Philippines that targeted Chinese nationals. The operation reportedly earned profits totaling $298 million, according to Chinese authorities.
He subsequently relocated his operations to Cambodia and then Myanmar, where he established Yatai.
This city stands out globally: a vibrant neon mecca set in a conflict-ridden area controlled by ethnic rebels who nominally pledge allegiance to the military junta yet exercise practical independence.
She was taken into custody in Thailand in 2022 on an Interpol red notice at the request of the Chinese government.
Claims of Espionage
While contesting his extradition, he asserted through his legal representative that he was wheelchair-bound due to “inhumane” conditions inflicted by his Thai captors.
He further claims to be a Chinese spy who disobeyed orders, alleging that his arrest was driven by political motivations. He informed Al Jazeera in September that he faced “certain death” if returned to China.
His fears may not be unfounded. Beijing has taken a stern stance against individuals who exploit overseas online gambling, human trafficking, and scam operations targeting Chinese citizens.
In the last two months alone, sixteen individuals have received death sentences after being convicted of such crimes.