Big Take Asia
Inside Southeast Asia’s Most Notorious Crime Hub
Aug 19, 2024
Matt Campbell, an editor at Bloomberg Businessweek, delves into the sinister rise of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos. He discusses how a seemingly innocent economic initiative attracted gamblers, drug runners, and human traffickers. Campbell shares harrowing stories of human trafficking and the brutal conditions workers endure in scam centers. He also explores ongoing efforts to transform the area from a criminal haven into a tourist-friendly destination, highlighting the complexities of governance and crime in this notorious region.
18:45
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Quick takeaways
- The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone has become a hub for human trafficking, exploiting individuals in scam centers under severe coercion.
- Despite ongoing criminal activities, the Lao government shows little interest in enforcement due to ties with influential businessmen like Zhao Wei.
Deep dives
The Exploitation of Trafficked Workers
Many individuals in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone are trafficked and forced to work in scam centers where they are exploited for fraudulent activities. A notable case is that of a woman named Siti, who believed she was traveling for a job in Thailand but ended up in a coercive environment in Laos. Once there, she had her passport confiscated and was locked inside a building while being trained to run scams. This situation highlights the grave human rights violations taking place in the area, where trafficked workers face severe consequences if they fail to meet their targets, including physical punishment.
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