Key member of cross-border crime syndicate repatriated to China

Li Xiong, a key member of the Chen Zhi criminal syndicate, was escorted back to China from Phnom Penh on Wednesday, marking another major achievement of law enforcement cooperation between China and Cambodia, China's Ministry of Public Security said.

Li, the former chairman of a group under the Chen criminal syndicate, is suspected of running casinos, fraud, illegal business operations, and concealing criminal proceeds. The ministry said the case is under further investigation.

Chen, the head of the cross-border gambling and fraud group, was previously brought back to China from Cambodia in January, where he was taken into custody as the case remained under investigation.

On Jan 15, the ministry issued a notice urging fugitives linked to the Chen's syndicate to surrender.

An MPS official said that several core members of the Chen's criminal syndicate have been apprehended, and that police will continue to capture remaining fugitives, while once again urging suspects still at large to surrender as soon as possible.