Scams, trafficking, drugs, and money flows: Organized Crime in 2025 in the Mekong | Mekong Matters

Cannabis Smuggling from Thailand

Thailand's cannabis decriminalization in 2022 opened the door to a booming industry — but without a clear legal framework, it also turned the country into a hotspot for cannabis trafficking. In this episode of Mekong Matters, independent Thai journalist Nathaphob Sungkate unpacks how cannabis is being smuggled out of Thailand by air, by courier, and by sea — often using unwitting travellers as mules. From 786 seizure cases in 2024 to over 3,000 in 2025, the numbers tell a story of policy failure, enforcement gaps, and organized crime exploiting a legal grey zone. We explore the methods traffickers use, the links between Thailand's legal cannabis market and illicit exports, and what it will take — from both Thai and European governments — to address the problem. This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

Crypto & Fintech: Anti Money Laundering in Vietnam | Mekong Matters Podcast

Vietnam’s rapid fintech growth and high crypto adoption have created new vulnerabilities for money laundering—placing the country on the FATF Grey List in 2023. In this episode of Mekong Matters Chat Le Nguyen, Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury’s Faculty of Law talks about Vietnam’s AML challenges and reforms, from peer-to-peer lending and predatory loan practices to crypto-related fraud and the role of cash in a largely cash-based economy. Subscribe to Mekong Matters for monthly insights into organized crime and illicit markets across the Mekong. #MekongMatters #vietnam #moneylaundering #antimoneylaundering #fatfgreylist #crypto #fintech #p2plending #financialcrime #compliance #organizedcrime This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

Online Gaming and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Thailand | Mekong Matters Podcast

In this episode of Mekong Matters, we examine how popular online games and adjacent platforms are being weaponized to target and exploit young people in Thailand. Our guest Wirawan “Boom” Mosby, founder and director of the Hug Project Thailand, shares on-the-ground insights into how trust is built and abused online, how perpetrators profit from live-streamed content, and what families, schools, tech companies, and governments can do to protect children. If you or someone you know needs help: 1. Contact your local child protection services or law enforcement immediately. 2. Report abusive content directly on the platform where it appears 3. Reach out to reputable child protection NGOs in your area This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government. * Leaked-Research Report - The HUG Project [https://www.hugproject.org/media/leaked-research-report/]

Trafficked Brides, Forced Labour, and the Fight for Justice in Laos

In this episode of Mekong Matters, we turn to Laos, where girls and young women are being lured across borders by false promises of jobs, security, and marriage. Once separated from their families, many face forced labor, sexual exploitation, surrogacy, and coerced criminal activity. Our guest, Madame Intana, Director of the Association for Development of Women and Legal Education (ADWLE), explains how poverty, debt, gender norms, and limited opportunities drive vulnerability. We also examine why many victims hesitate to seek help and the practical challenges they face, from lack of internet access to the need for precise address details to reach authorities. This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

Scams, trafficking, drugs, and money flows: Organized Crime in 2025 in the Mekong | Mekong Matters

In this end-of-year episode of Mekong Matters, we unpack how organized crime across the Mekong evolved in 2025, shedding light on the alarming developments that have taken place throughout the year. From industrial-scale cyber scam compounds and widening human trafficking networks to booming synthetic drug markets and sophisticated money laundering operations, we explore the multifaceted nature of these issues. Experts in the field explain in detail why the crisis is not only localized but is also spreading across continents, posing a significant challenge to global security. Subscribe for monthly deep dives on organized crime trends across the Mekong. Hosted by Trang Nguyen 🎧 New episodes on the last Monday of every month. 🤳 Subscribe to keep up to date. Chapters: 00:00 - Opening: 2025 overview and the industrialization of cyber scams 00:45 - Scam epicentres: Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar 01:22 - How scam centres resurface after crackdowns 02:13 - Going transnational: expansion to Africa, Middle East, Pacific, South Asia 03:45 - Prevention: collaboration, data sharing, and top-level accountability 04:15 - Trafficking risks in Cambodia 06:29 - Labour trafficking and debt bondage explained 06:36 - Child sexual exploitation online: livestreams, sextortion, and AI imagery 08:09 - Language gaps: why Mekong-region content goes undetected 08:46 - Drugs in 2025: synthetic markets surge; Myanmar’s role 10:04 - Meth volumes visualized and the debate on drivers 12:35 - Following the money: shell companies and cross-border laundering 14:06 - Thailand temple scandal: embezzlement, extortion, and weak oversight 16:25 - Response gap widens: resilience vs. cyber/financial crime 17:09 - Cybercrime Convention: promise, timelines, and acting now 18:25 - Stay informed about organised crime in the Mekong Guests: Jason Tower - Senior Expert, GI-TOC BC Tan - Managing Director & Head of Investigations in South East Asia, Kroll Lindsey Kennedy - Investigative Journalist Moeun Tola - Executive Director for the Center for Alliance for Labor and Human Rights Virginia Comolli - Head of Pacific Programme, GI-TOC Itsaraporn Daoram - Regional Coordinator for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, ECPAT Patrick Winn - Investigative Journalist Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang - Constitutional Law Scholar Ian Tennant - Director of Multilateral Engagement, GI-TOC This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.