COMPOUNDS OF COERCION

The arrest and extradition of a powerful tycoon accused of running one of the world's largest online scam networks has brought a rare moment of clarity to a murky, transnational crime industry.

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Cambodia's decision to hand over Chen Zhi-alleged by US and UK authorities to be the mastermind behind a vast web of digital fraud - is being read as a breakthrough. For victims who have lost life savings, and families still searching for loved ones trapped in scam compounds, it feels like overdue justice. But the truth is less comforting. This industry does not hinge on a single kingpin or a single country's resolve. It is a hydra that regenerates quickly, drawing strength from weak governance, global connectivity, and a brutal economic logic that treats both victims and workers as disposable. One arrest, however significant, barely dents a business that has already siphoned tens of billions of dollars from people across continents.