Hong Kong freezes $354M in assets tied to Cambodian scam empire operator Chen Zhi

Hong Kong authorities has frozen assets worth HK$2.75 billion (US$354 million) linked to a criminal syndicate identified as the Prince Group run by sanctioned Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi.

Britain and the United States last month sanctioned the Southeast Asia-based multinational network, which is accused of operating large-scale online "scam centers" that used trafficked workers to defraud victims around the world.

Chen, 38, was indicted by a U.S. court on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

The Hong Kong police said the asset freeze involved a syndicate suspected of involvement in international cross-border telecommunications fraud and money laundering activities based on intelligence and information gathered from multiple sources.

"The frozen assets, including cash, stocks, and funds held by individuals and corporate entities, are believed to be crime proceeds linked to the concerned syndicate," the police said in a statement late on Tuesday without specifying names.

The Hong Kong Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau was continuing with investigations, but no arrests had yet been made, the statement added.

At least 18 Hong Kong companies were blacklisted by the U.S. in connection with the Prince Group. These included two listed companies, Khoon Group and Geotech Holdings.

Singapore authorities also recently seized over S$150 million in assets linked to the Prince Group, including six properties as well as bank accounts, securities accounts and cash, local media reported.

The U.S. Treasury Department said this was its largest action ever in Southeast Asia, targeting 146 people within the Prince Group. Britain's sanctions targeted six entities and six individuals, including Chen.