This chapter explores the transformative journey of a Heilongjiang native who built a casino empire in Macau, eventually transitioning to a powerful player in Laos's special economic zone. It reveals the dark underbelly of this zone, where autonomy from local law enforcement has allowed illicit activities to flourish, while detailing the plight of victims caught in a web of scams. The gripping story of an Indonesian worker's harrowing escape from forced labor within this zone underscores the complex interplay of development, crime, and international law enforcement challenges.
A Chinese businessman persuaded officials to establish a special economic zone in a remote part of Laos. The gamblers arrived first. Then came the drug runners, human traffickers and scammers.
On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek editor Matt Campbell about his investigation into the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and how it became a criminal’s paradise.
Read more: Dodge City
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