Chinese social media was rocked on November 14 when authorities officially disclosed the entire criminal dossier of Xia Kailun, the long-fugitive crime boss known as the distant cousin of Zhao Wei’s ex-husband, billionaire Huang Youlong. After nearly four years on Interpol’s red list, Xia was finally caught by Thai police and extradited to China on November 12.
According to Chinese investigators, Xia was originally named Xia Zhijiang, born in 1982 in a poor village in Shaodong, Hunan, raised just 500 meters from Huang Youlong’s childhood home. Xia dropped out of school in middle school and left for Guilin at age 14, working more than 20 odd jobs in a year, from dishwashing to car washing.
His criminal path began in 2000, when friends lured him to the Philippines and later to other Southeast Asian countries, where he joined illegal gambling networks and scams. Desperate for easy money, he invested all his savings (RMB 40,000) in a computer and a small rented room to run lotteries and online gambling scams.
In 2012, Chinese police cracked down on his operation and issued a wanted notice, but Xia fled abroad before he could be arrested.
In 2013, Xia founded the Asia-Pacific International Investment Group in Bangkok, a company that appeared legitimate but secretly ran a massive telecom fraud operation employing 3,500 people. His illegal enterprises have amassed an estimated wealth of RMB 3 billion.
In 2017, Xia moved to Cambodia, obtained citizenship and changed his name to Xia Kailun to escape pursuit. With this new identity, he purchased land, built structures, and relocated his empire of fraud KK Parkthe infamous telecom scam complex in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Within eight years, KK Park it became a vast crime center under his rule.
Incredibly, Xia operated with such confidence that he even joined overseas Chinese business associations and became vice president, despite being an internationally wanted criminal.
Authorities have revealed terrifying details of Xia’s operations in Myanmar:
- It partnered with local armed militias with a 60-40 profit split.
- Victims ensnared in gambling scams were forced to participate in human trafficking schemes to repay fake debts, sold for RMB 20,000-300,000 each.
- More than 330,000 people were defrauded, with illegal earnings estimated at RMB 2.77 trillion.
- KK Park it also hosted 248 other scam organizations.
Survivors’ testimonies revealed brutal torture inside the compound. One Fujian victim said three of his fingers were cut off after he tried to escape. A friend of his was beaten until his bones broke, locked in a metal cage and kept submerged in water for days as punishment. Workers were forced to work up to 20 hours a day, were allowed only five bathroom breaks, and were deprived of food or sold elsewhere if they did not meet daily targets.
Many of the rescued victims suffered severe psychological trauma, and some showed signs of long-term mental disorders.
Xia was also involved in illegal organ trafficking, which compounded the severity of his crimes. Interpol issued a red notice against him in May 2021, and by early 2022 China, Myanmar, Cambodia and several other countries had listed him as a priority target. In September this year, the US Treasury announced sanctions against KK Park and Xia Kailun.
However, only recently did the Thai police track him down and arrest him.
Both Thai and Chinese authorities have condemned Xia’s atrocities, saying he operated under the guise of a businessman and philanthropist while destroying the lives of countless families. Many victims were left bankrupt, deeply in debt or driven to desperation and suicide.
Chinese officials have promised a transparent investigation and severe punishment. The full extent of Xia Kailun’s crimes has yet to be discovered as the case develops.
Sources: K14
