Time to clean up the ungoverned regions of South-east Asia

THE ungoverned regions of mainland South-east Asia seem to be rapidly becoming havens for phone scam operators. The rescue of 260 people from a scam centre along the Myanmar-Thai border last week is just the latest iteration of the phenomenon. In this instance, these people were lured into this centre with promises of well-paying jobs before being held hostage and forced to work as scammers, swindling people around the world.

AFP reports that scam compounds have now “mushroomed” along the border. That’s alarming but it makes sense. The military junta in Naypyidaw has been steadily losing control of more and more territory since its coup. Current estimates suggest the coup leader’s writ runs across no more than 60 per cent of the country. Rebels have established strongholds in border regions. However, vast areas are effectively beyond the reach of any authority.

Scam call centres are not the only “industry” in the region. The point where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet is known as the Golden Triangle for good reason. Illicit drugs, including heroin and methamphetamines, are still being produced there. While no one is all too certain about the annual worth of the Golden Triangle drug trade, the global scam call business was estimated at US$1.03 trillion in 2024, as per the Global Anti Scam Alliance. How much South-east Asia contributes to that figure is not known but it must be substantial. Otherwise, why would scam operators flock to the region?