2020.07.29 FCCT Organized crime and the drug trade in Southeast Asia
Organized crime and the drug trade in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, and in particular Thailand’s Golden Triangle region, has been synonymous with drug trafficking for decades, but the illicit business now, linked to vast networks of covert methamphetamine “labs” and transnational crime syndicates, is very different from the days of heroin warlord Khun Sa, opium farmers and even “yaba” pill mills. Alongside the growth and consolidation of organized crime activity and power within the region, the business is now dominated by multinational syndicates that operate seamlessly across the Asia-Pacific region and globally in sophisticated, multi-billion dollar operations. Official responses from regional governments are struggling to keep up with developments. While authorities continue to carry out raids and net big hauls of illicit drugs, a vast network of meth labs remains nimble and elusive, prices remain low and demand, sky-high. Some policymakers are calling for a recalibration of anti-drug efforts and new models for cross-border cooperation. Our expert panel will explain how drug trafficking has evolved in size, speed and sophistication, and discuss national and regional efforts to respond to the growing challenges of interdiction and law enforcement. This discussion will be of interest to all who cover and care about the region as well as those who study or report on drug trade and organised crime here and around the world. Panelists Jeremy Douglas, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC) regional representative Paisith Sungkahapong, Deputy Secretary-General, Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (ONCB) Inshik Sim, UNODC research officer Patrick Winn, journalist and author of “Hello Shadowlands: Inside the Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts and Bomb-Scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia” Moderator: Panu Wongcha-um, senior correspondent, Reuters (Thailand)
