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Mekong Matters

GI TOC
Human Trafficking
Thailand
Vietnam
Mekong River
Cyber Scams
Golden Triangle
Online Gaming
Sexual Exploitation
Buddhism
Sangha Kao Siu
Wildlife Trafficking
Organized Crime
Myanmar
Mekong Region
Laos
Labour Trafficking
Cannabis
Embezzlement
Temple Donations
Monastic Regulation

Across the Mekong, organized crime shapes daily life—from illegal casinos in the Golden Triangle and synthetic drug production in Vietnam, to human trafficking, cyber scams, and the looting of forests and wildlife. Mekong Matters is a new podcast from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) featuring experts, investigators and local leaders who expose how criminal netw... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes9Founded9 months ago
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Artwork for Mekong Matters

Latest Episodes

Cyber scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia have made headlines, but they are no less an issue in Laos and they are spreading across the country. In this episode of Mekong Matters, Phetmany Khemmana, Laos Field Coordinator at the Global Initiative ... more

Thailand's cannabis decriminalization in 2022 opened the door to a booming industry — but without a clear legal framework, it also turned the country into a hotspot for cannabis trafficking. In this episode of Mekong Matters, independent Thai journal... more

Vietnam’s rapid fintech growth and high crypto adoption have created new vulnerabilities for money laundering—placing the country on the FATF Grey List in 2023. In this episode of Mekong Matters Chat Le Nguyen, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ca... more

In this episode of Mekong Matters, we examine how popular online games and adjacent platforms are being weaponized to target and exploit young people in Thailand.

Our guest Wirawan “Boom” Mosby, founder and director of the Hug Project Thailand, shar... more

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Recent Guests

Nathaphob Sungkate
Independent Thai journalist
Journalist reporting on cannabis trafficking in Thailand
Episode: Cannabis Smuggling from Thailand | Mekong Matters Podcast
Chet Le Nguyen
Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury, Faculty of Law
University of Canterbury
Episode: Crypto & Fintech: Anti Money Laundering in Vietnam | Mekong Matters Podcast
Wirawan Mosby
Founder and Director of the Hug Project Thailand
The Hug Project Thailand
Episode: Online Gaming and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Thailand | Mekong Matters Podcast
Intana Bofasa-Vang
Director of the Association for Development of Women and Legal Education; pioneer in legal clinics for female victims of trafficking
Association for Development of Women and Legal Education (Adwle)
Episode: Trafficked Brides, Forced Labour, and the Fight for Justice in Laos
Moeun Tola
Executive Director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights
Episode: Cambodian Migrant Workers Are Returning from Thailand: Labour Trafficking in Mekong | Mekong Matters
Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang
Specialist in the intersection between Buddhism and constitutional law
Episode: Uncovering Financial Crimes in Thailand's Buddhist Temples | Mekong Matters Podcast

Host

Chang Nguyen
Host of Mekong Matters; gi-toc / Mekong Matters scholar/principal investigator

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Talking Points

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Online Gaming and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Thailand | Mekong Matters Podcast
Q: Is it more difficult to cut perpetrators who are using online gaming platforms to lure children compared to social media or other methods?
Yes, because different platforms have varying levels of platform cooperation with law enforcement and because offenders adapt quickly; however, every case tends to leave traces that investigators can follow, and cross-platform coordination is crucial.
Trafficked Brides, Forced Labour, and the Fight for Justice in Laos
Q: What initially drew you to work with trafficking victims in Laos?
A recognition that victims have few, if any, resources to seek justice and that dedicated legal aid and compassionate support could change outcomes for women and children trapped by trafficking.
Crypto & Fintech: Anti Money Laundering in Vietnam | Mekong Matters Podcast
Q: What role do banks and non-financial businesses play in Vietnam's AML strategy today?
Banks and non-financial institutions are being pushed to adopt AML measures, but effectiveness varies. There is progress in adopting digitized laws and compliance requirements, with prosecutors increasingly pursuing money laundering alongside other charges when resources allow.
Crypto & Fintech: Anti Money Laundering in Vietnam | Mekong Matters Podcast
Q: How does the rise of cryptocurrency and digital access complicate money laundering detection in Vietnam?
Cryptocurrency enables cross-border transfers without traditional banking friction, making it harder to trace funds. Without robust regulation and clear guidelines on digital assets, law enforcement struggles to identify illicit flows, necessitating new legal instruments and tech-enabled monitoring.
Crypto & Fintech: Anti Money Laundering in Vietnam | Mekong Matters Podcast
Q: Can you elaborate on how the government plans to get Vietnam off the FATF gray list and what concrete steps are required?
The guest outlines that Vietnam needs to strengthen both legal frameworks and practical enforcement—tightening crypto oversight, improving customer due diligence, expanding cross-border collaboration, and ensuring consistent implementation by financial institutions. Political will and resource allocation are critical to sustain reforms until the country demonstrates measurable AML outcomes.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mekong Matters

What is Mekong Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep, investigative series examining how transnational crime operates across the Mekong region, from illegal gambling and drug production to human trafficking, cyber scams, and environmental crime. Episodes pair on-the-ground researchers, policy experts, and local advocates to unpack trafficking routes, regulatory gaps, enforcement challenges, and cross-border dynamics. The show leans into data-driven context, real-world case studies, and practical reform ideas, often featuring NGO leaders, legal experts, and journalists who illuminate how criminal networks affect communities, governance, and public safety. A standout trait is the focus on regional collaboration—between Southeast Asian nations and international partners—while translating ... more

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1. Saturday Extra - Full program podcast
2. The News Agents

How many episodes of Mekong Matters are there?

Mekong Matters launched 9 months ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Mekong Matters?

Recent guests on Mekong Matters include:

1. Nathaphob Sungkate
2. Chet Le Nguyen
3. Wirawan Mosby
4. Intana Bofasa-Vang
5. Moeun Tola
6. Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang

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