Executive Summary

Cybercriminals in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ)* are utilising Large Language Models (LLMs), advanced deepfake technology, and Fraud-as-a-Service marketplaces to raise their international illicit operations to a new level of sophistication and scale. Within Laos’s borders, Vientiane’s complicity will almost certainly perpetuate the problem and complicate law enforcement efforts. Meanwhile, in other parts of the zone, law enforcement efforts by Beijing, Rangoon, and Bangkok have seen some successes, but the scope, planned duration, and long-term impact of the operations remain unclear.

* The GTSEZ  is situated along the Mekong River, bordered by Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. It was established in 2007 by the Lao government in cooperation with the Kings Romans Group, a Chinese criminal organisation headed by Zhao Wei. In the last five years, the GTSEZ has seen an explosion in cyber scamming operations, with an estimated $64 billion illicit market operating in the zone. Furthermore, the lack of law enforcement presence in the GTSEZ has allowed enterprising criminals to take hold of the region. Allowing them to set up heavily fortified compounds for human trafficking, scam centres, gambling, money laundering and other illicit activities. [source, source]