"Pig killing" and gambling scams on the rise in Southeast Asia
A new report released this week by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) suggests that romance and illegal gambling scams may become more serious in regions such as Southeast Asia Myanmar. The report says an "unholy alliance" between Myanmar's Border Guard Force (BGF) and Chinese criminal organizations is causing a "global security threat".
The report Crime Cancer Spreads in Southeast Asia takes a closer look at the evolution of fraud in the region and highlights Myanmar as a new major source of illicit activity. Chinese criminal groups use BGF to engage in cybercrime and financial fraud, posing a global threat to Internet users, the report said.
These organized criminal groups operate along the Thailand-Myanmar border and use online slavery to carry out their illegal activities. While these gangs previously targeted Chinese citizens almost exclusively, they are now expanding and operating globally.
Ignoring global security threats
China expelled criminal gangs and underworld forces from the country, and they fled to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries for refuge. There they built large complexes to carry out their activities.
Although the report highlights the "global security threat" posed by these groups and their activities, minimal efforts have been made to curb the spread of these illegal entities. USIP National Director Jason Tower warned in an interview with VOA that these groups are now targeting almost anyone, anywhere.
Criminal gangs' tactics have expanded beyond illegal casinos and quick money-grabbing schemes. They are now using a new tactic of "hog slaughter," which Tarr describes as a scam designed to "fatten the target before [financially] slaughtering it."
Tal explained that this form of fraud originated in China. The aim is for the perpetrator to gradually develop a deep, often romantic, connection with the victim online.
As the relationship strengthens, the scammer will convince the victim to hand over more money. Eventually the crooks took everything and disappeared.
Tal emphasized that the targets were not only Americans, but also individuals from across Europe, Japan and several other countries around the world.
The gangs operate in a strategic 31-mile-long area parallel to the Moi River, close to the Myanmar-Thailand border. USIP reports indicate the existence of as many as 17 different crime zones covering more than 1,235 acres.
They are able to thrive because the BGF at least allows them to. More likely, though, is that border militias would provide support in exchange for compensation.
eyes in the sky
The systems maintained by criminals require humans to operate them. This has led to an increase in human trafficking, which regional leaders say they are combating.
Human trafficking affects every country, but Southeast Asia has far more victims. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said at a summit in May that its members would take action.
To fill the gap that governments cannot fill, International Justice Mission (IJM) recently partnered with space technology company Maxar. It now uses innovative methods to track the spread of crime in the area.
https://twitter.com/IJMUK/status/1671765818277781504
IJM shares a series of images carefully captured over three years by the Maxar Earth-observing satellite. They provide evidence of the existence and growth of criminal groups.
In addition to orbital surveillance, satellite methods offer additional opportunities to expose the tragic reality of human trafficking. IJM isn't the only organization helping to shed light on global issues; Stanford University has a role to play, too.
Stanford University's Human Trafficking Data Research Center uses satellite data, specifically that operated by San Francisco-based satellite company Planet, to conduct research on forced labor in areas of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest affected by deforestation.
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Source: www.casino.org
