Zhao Wei (gangster)

Zhao Wei (Chinese: 赵伟; pinyin: Zhào Wěi) is a Chinese businessman and the founder of Hong Kong registered company Kings Romans Group (formed in 2007),[1] which owns the Kings Romans casino franchise. The United States Treasury Department imposed sanctions on what they designated the Zhao Wei Transnational Criminal Organization (Zhao Wei TCO) in 2018 for its alleged involvement in laundering money and assisting in the storage and distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, and other narcotics for illicit networks, including the United Wa State Army which operates in Myanmar.[2][3][4] Based in Laos in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ), Zhao Wei is also reported to engage in human trafficking, bribery, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime.[5] Much of this illicit activity is allegedly conducted through the Kings Romans casino organisation in the GTSEZ.[6]

For other people named Zhao Wei, see Zhao Wei (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhao.

Zhao Wei
赵伟
Born16 September 1952 (1952-09-16) (age 71)
Heilongjiang or Liaoning, China
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • drug trafficker
OrganizationKings Romans Group

Background

Zhao Wei was born in Heilongjiang or Liaoning, China on 16 September 1952.[7] He began as a timber trader before moving, in the 1990s, to Macau, where he holds permanent residency, and began investing in casinos. In 2001, Zhao Wei moved to Mong La, Myanmar where he founded his first casino franchise, Landun Entertainment. He established ties with the National Democratic Alliance Army whose leader, Sai Leun financed the operations of the casino industry in Mong La. In 2005, China imposed a travel ban to Mong La following reports of officials gambling state funds. The travel ban led to the shuttering of casinos in the city.[1]

Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone
Main article: Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

Soon after the travel ban was imposed, Zhao was invited by government of Laos to invest in Bokeo Province.[1] In 2007, Zhao negotiated and struck a 99-year lease to establish and operate the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in the same province.[8][9] In early October 2020, a US$50 million dollar investment to build a port in the Laotian town of Ban Mom, directly north of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, was made by Osiano Trading Sole Co., a partner or front company of Zhao Wei and his organization.[10] The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has raised concerns about Laos being used by organized crime to traffic drugs, precursor chemicals, and other illicit commodities, and that the purchase of the Ban Mom port is representative of organized crime infiltrating infrastructure in the region.[11][12] The Ban Mom port is on a remote stretch of the Mekong which has been confirmed as a smuggling route for trafficking drugs and precursor chemicals into and out of the Golden Triangle.[13][14]

Personal life

Zhao Wei is married to Chinese Australian Su Guiqin (born 1960).[15] Alongside her husband, Su Guiqin runs the Kings Romans casino.[9]

References
  1. "Sin City: Illegal wildlife trade in Laos' Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone" (PDF). Environmental Investigation Agency. March 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  2. "Treasury Sanctions the Zhao Wei Transnational Criminal Organization" (Press release). U.S. Department of the Treasury. 30 January 2018.
  3. "Treasury Action Targets Burmese Drug Cartel" (Press release). U.S. Department of the Treasury. 13 November 2008.
  4. Douglas, Jeremy (19 March 2019). "To disrupt money laundering, Canada should consider a different relationship with Asia". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. "Transnational Organized Crime in Southeast Asia: Evolution, Growth and Challenges" (PDF). June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  6. Douglas, Jeremy (14 February 2019). "Asian organized crime doubles down on casinos". CNN.
  7. "Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. 30 January 2018.
  8. "U.S. slaps sanctions on Laos golden triangle 'casino' in bid to break up narco-empire". Reuters. 31 January 2018.
  9. Parry, Simon (24 July 2018). "A Mr Big of wildlife trafficking: could elusive Laos casino operator be behind rackets that run to drugs, child prostitution?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 January 2021. (Subscription required.)
  10. "Chinese Casino Kingpin Behind New Mekong Port to Serve Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos". Radio Free Asia. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. Douglas, Jeremy (20 August 2020). "Laos is a missing link in Asia's fight against organized crime". CNN.
  12. Berlinger, Joshua (8 December 2020). "Is an alleged drug kingpin from China investing millions in a port in Laos?". CNN. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  13. Strangio, Sebastian (13 October 2020). "Golden Triangle Casino Baron Bankrolls New Mekong River Port". The Diplomat. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  14. Kundu, Ankur (11 December 2020). "Chinese Druglord reportedly investing in a Port in Laos". FleetMon. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  15. "US Busts a Chinese Golden Triangle Billionaire". Asia Sentinel. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2021.

Further reading
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