Prince Group Chairman Chen Zhi Extradited to China Amid Global Crackdown on Scam Networks

A massive $15 billion in assets has been frozen, a royal citizenship has been revoked, and a corporate empire is crumbling. Chen Zhi, the chairman of Prince Holding Group and alleged architect of Cambodia's industrial-scale human trafficking compounds, was deported to China on January 6, 2026. His removal marks a significant shift in Southeast Asian geopolitics as regional governments buckle under intense pressure from both Washington and Beijing.

The Downfall of Prince Group and Chen Zhi

Cambodia's Interior Ministry confirmed that the 37-year-old tycoon was extradited following months of joint investigations. The United States had already paved the way for this move in October 2025 by labeling the conglomerate a "transnational criminal organization." By December, King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree officially stripping Chen of his Cambodian citizenship, leaving him vulnerable to deportation.

Geopolitical Alignment and the 'Maduro Model'

Analysts suggest the timing of Chen's deportation isn't accidental. It comes just three days after the high-profile capture of Nicolas Maduro by the Trump administration. "Chen's removal fits the model of Maduro's capture," says Gavin Greenwood, a risk analyst at Allan & Associates. It seems Cambodia feared that if they didn't act, the US might seek to extricate him directly, bypassing due process.

The crackdown also served as a prerequisite for a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand along their 817-kilometer disputed border. With at least 100,000 people held in forced labor scam compounds, the international community has long demanded action against the ruling elites who allegedly profited from these syndicates.