A senior FBI official said the U.S. is fully committed to leading the global fight against transnational scamming compounds in Southeast Asia after visits to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam exposed industrial-scale pig-butchering and cryptocurrency investment scams that rely on trafficked, indentured workers. Partnerships between the FBI, the Department of Justice and local forces like the Royal Thai Police have produced major enforcement actions — including the DOJ indictment and $15 billion bitcoin seizure tied to Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi and subsequent crackdowns — but officials warn the threat is regional and requires sustained, coordinated international action. #FBI #ChenZhi #PrinceGroup #RoyalThaiPolice
Keypoints
- FBI deputy assistant director Scott Schelble visited Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to investigate scamming compounds.
- Compounds operate industrial-scale pig-butchering and cryptocurrency investment scams using largely indentured and trafficked workers.
- A sophisticated money-laundering ecosystem obscures billions in illicit funds annually.
- The DOJ indicted Chen Zhi and seized about $15 billion in bitcoin linked to the Prince Group, while China executed leaders of Myanmar-linked crime families.
- Officials emphasize the issue is regional and requires coordinated international law enforcement partnerships to disrupt networks and assist victims.
Read More: https://therecord.media/us-committed-to-fighting-southeast-asia-scam-compounds