Cambodia freezes $1,000m in assets linked to Prince Group
CCTC names 198 companies, arrests alleged ringleaders and freezes bank accounts
Key Takeaways
- The Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC) of Cambodia froze $1,000 million in assets linked to Prince Group.
- The CCTC identified 198 companies connected to Prince Group: 98 registered in Cambodia and 100 abroad.
- Authorities froze buildings, casinos, thousands of properties and $300 million in bank accounts associated with Prince Group.
- Chen Zhi and alleged ringleaders were arrested; Chen Zhi was extradited to China in January and had his Cambodian citizenship revoked.
- The CCTC has sought INTERPOL Red Notices for 29 fugitives and is cooperating with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security.
Cambodian authorities froze assets of $1 000 million linked to Prince Group, the company accused of using casinos as a front for global scams, the Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC) said. The CCTC identified 198 companies connected to Prince Group — 98 in Cambodia and 100 abroad — and stated that its founder, Chen Zhi, and his associates were the leaders of the criminal organisation. The announcement named Prince Group and several of its properties, including multiple [casinos](/casino), as central to the alleged scheme.
Assets and concrete measures
Among the assets frozen by the CCTC are buildings, casinos and thousands of real estate properties, as well as $300 million in cash held in bank accounts. The CCTC has also initiated procedures to request INTERPOL Red Notices for 29 individuals who fled the country and is coordinating with the [FBI](/regulation) and the Ministry of Public Security of China to strengthen the investigation.
The UK Government and United States authorities had already sanctioned Prince Group and Chen Zhi for the alleged illegal activity. The UK Government froze several assets in London, including a mansion valued at £12 million and an office building for £100 million. The U.S. Department of Justice described Prince Group as “one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal organisations”, responsible for cryptocurrency ‘pig butchering’ scams that defraud victims of “substantial sums of money.”
Arrests and administrative actions
The CCTC confirmed the arrest of Chen Zhi and the alleged ringleaders Li Song, Liu Yin, Eng Dara, Eang Soklim and Huang Ron. In January, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior stated that it had arrested and extradited Chen Zhi to China and revoked his Cambodian citizenship.
The CCTC’s permanent chair and head, Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, said that between July 2025 and September 2026 authorities investigated 910 locations associated with online scam activity, including 28 casinos linked to criminal conduct. The Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission to Combat Online Scams investigated the country’s 195 casinos, which led to the closure of 20 venues and the suspension of 29 licences while inquiries continue.
Sources
The investigation and the list of linked companies were also reported by The Phnom Penh Post and confirmed by the CCTC in its public statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money did Cambodia freeze related to Prince Group?
Cambodia froze $1,000 million in assets linked to Prince Group, including buildings, casinos, thousands of real estate properties and $300 million in cash in bank accounts.
How many companies linked to Prince Group did the CCTC identify?
The CCTC identified 198 companies connected to Prince Group: 98 registered in Cambodia and 100 registered abroad, according to its statement.
Who was arrested in connection with the Prince Group investigation?
The CCTC confirmed the arrest of Chen Zhi and the alleged ringleaders Li Song, Liu Yin, Eng Dara, Eang Soklim and Huang Ron; authorities also reported that Chen Zhi was extradited to China in January and had his Cambodian citizenship revoked.
What international measures are in place against those involved?
Cambodian authorities requested INTERPOL Red Notices for 29 fugitives and are coordinating with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security; the UK and US previously imposed sanctions and the UK froze assets in London.
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Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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