Zhao Wei (gangster)

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

Zhao Wei (Chinese: 赵伟; pinyin: Zhào Wěi; born 16 September 1952) is a Chinese businessman and founder of the 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, child prostitution, 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]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference EIA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.