Submission Statement:
The Guardian estimates that revenue from scam operations makes up very high proportions of GDP in the Mekong area. This is of interest to the sub because it's international crime, but overlapped with geopolitics. (I think it's pretty fascinating.) Thanks to u/PlastikHateAccount who brought it to my attention.
Discussion points:
Is the Guardian correct or overstating?
Who is responsible? The article calls out the Golden Triangle Zone in Laos, which seems to implicate China in allowing some of this activity. There's also the unfortunate history of international involvement in these regions, as well as severe instability and political violence within them.
What could be done? If these estimates are reasonable, these aren't just large criminal networks… it's basically state-sanctioned international crime because the state needs to allow it to happen, even if not formally "allowed" by the state.
Posted by hypsignathus