Prosecutors seize yachts, luxurious automobiles from man accused of operating Cambodia cyberscams : NPR

BANGKOK — Prosecutors in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore seized tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in property belonging to a Cambodian businessman whom the U.S. accuses of heading a world 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 operating a large-scale cyber-scam community whose operations span international locations together with the U.S., the U.Okay. 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.Okay. authorities additionally introduced joint sanctions in opposition to Chen and his collaborators, in addition to his firm.

On this photograph launched by Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Investigation Bureau brokers examine paperwork after they seized an house which belongs to the suspected head of a prison 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 lately, with the U.N. estimating that they absorb tens of billions of {dollars} yearly from victims the world over through schemes that vary from faux investments to romance-based scams.

They allege that the Prince Holding Group prison community scammed 250 victims within the U.S., in response to the indictment.

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

A rising checklist of asset seizures depict a person with tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars}’ value of property unfold throughout jurisdictions.

Singapore launched an investigation on Oct. 30 after asserting the seizure of monetary 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 automobiles 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 superstar 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.Okay. 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, operating 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 Data for Cambodia’s authorities, stated he had no remark in response to questions from the AP.