Prosecutors seize yachts, luxurious vehicles from man accused of working Cambodia cyberscams : NPR

BANGKOK — Prosecutors in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore seized lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in property belonging to a Cambodian businessman whom the U.S. accuses of heading a worldwide rip-off syndicate.

It is the most recent in a string of investigations and asset seizures that started when American prosecutors charged Chen Zhi, the founding father of Cambodia’s Prince Holding Group, with working a large-scale cyber-scam community whose operations span nations together with the U.S., the U.Ok. and Palau.

U.S. authorities charged Chen with wire fraud conspiracy and cash laundering conspiracy in an indictment revealed Oct. 14, alongside an enormous seizure of crypto property that included some $14 billion in bitcoin. The U.S. and U.Ok. authorities additionally introduced joint sanctions in opposition to Chen and his collaborators, in addition to his firm.

On this picture launched by Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Investigation Bureau brokers examine paperwork after they seized an condo which belongs to the suspected head of a felony scamming syndicate, in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.

Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau/AP

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Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau/AP

Networks of scammers based mostly in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines have provoked growing concern in recent times, with the U.N. estimating that they absorb tens of billions of {dollars} yearly from victims internationally through schemes that vary from pretend investments to romance-based scams.

They allege that the Prince Holding Group felony community scammed 250 victims within the U.S., based on the indictment.

The Prince Holding Group didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

A rising listing of asset seizures depict a person with lots of of tens of millions of {dollars}’ value of property unfold throughout jurisdictions.

Singapore launched an investigation on Oct. 30 after saying the seizure of economic property belonging to Chen value greater than $150 million Singaporean {dollars} ($114 million), in addition to a yacht and cabinets of liquor.

On Tuesday, Taiwanese prosecutors seized property from Chen Zhi value $150 million whereas detaining 25 suspects. That included 26 luxurious vehicles together with a Ferrari, Bugatti and a Porsche, in addition to 11 flats in an upscale constructing in Taipei, prosecutors stated. Taiwanese media recognized it as the identical constructing the place movie star and Mandarin pop celebrity Jay Chou lives.

The identical day Hong Kong, police introduced the seizure of $2.75 billion Hong Kong {dollars} ($353 million) value of property made up of principally money, shares and different funds, which native media recognized as belonging to Chen Zhi.

U.Ok. authorities introduced seizures of a $12 million pound ($15.6 million) mansion in North London and a $100 million pound ($130 million) workplace constructing on Oct. 14.

Chen is a Chinese language nationwide who gained Cambodian citizenship and a spot within the Cambodian elite. Prince has a number of companies, working a financial institution and investments in actual property within the nation.

Nonetheless, prosecutors say the majority of his wealth got here from scamming. In response to the U.S. indictment, Chen as soon as bragged that the so-called “pig butchering” rip-off was pulling in $30 million a day.

Chen has served as an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, and was honored with the title “neak oknha” — equal to an English lord. Pheaktra Neth, the Minister of Info for Cambodia’s authorities, stated he had no remark in response to questions from the AP.