NationThailand-Nov 11
Four Southeast Asian crime hubs are bringing together online scams, human trafficking, money laundering and illicit trade, creating a regional security challenge that extends beyond conventional border threats, according to an October 2026 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The IISS findings highlight how criminal networks move money, people and information across borders, with links to armed groups adding to the security risks. Customs officials and industry representatives discussing the report in Bangkok called for closer regional cooperation to tackle these interconnected activities. Published on October 22, the report, Borderless Global Threats: Criminal Hubs and Regional Security in Southeast Asia, was presented at the Asia Security Conference & Exhibition 2026 in Bangkok on October 26. IISS identifies four locations where different criminal activities have become concentrated, creating risks that reach beyond national borders:
Golden Triangle: a former center of the narcotics trade that has developed into a base for multiple forms of crime; Myawaddy: a center for online scam networks and human trafficking; Sihanoukville: a rapidly growing port city where criminal networks have established a presence; Poipet: a border city and casino center associated with cybercrime, human trafficking and money laundering. IISS describes the overlap between drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal gambling, money laundering and online fraud as “criminal convergence”. These activities can share transport routes, financial systems and networks of interests, making them harder to address as separate problems. Under the IISS framework, concentrations of overlapping criminal activities can develop into “criminal hubs” capable of exerting influence across borders. The security challenge therefore involves more than individual offences or isolated criminal groups. Thailand is not identified as a separate principal hub, although the Golden Triangle spans parts of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Thailand’s location, transport connections and border crossings link it to these networks and expose it to the effects of their activities. Read more at:
