A recent report from the United Nations (U.N.) has raised alarm over the escalating involvement of transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia. These groups are capitalizing on underregulated casinos, illegal online gambling, and the adoption of cryptocurrency, heightening the region’s vulnerability to cyber-enabled fraud and other criminal activities.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) issued the policy report, titled Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud, Underground Banking, and Technological Innovation: A Shifting Threat Landscape. This comprehensive document underlines how the landscape of organized crime in Southeast Asia is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by technological advances and sophisticated criminal syndicates.

Evolving threats in Southeast Asia:

The report highlights that Southeast Asia is witnessing a surge in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, as well as an increase in cyber-enabled fraud. “The transnational organised crime threat landscape in Southeast Asia is evolving faster than in any previous point in history,” the UNODC notes. The agency emphasized that the rise in fraud is largely orchestrated by highly organized criminal networks, which also facilitate money laundering, human trafficking, and other illegal activities.

Despite efforts by law enforcement, cyber fraud continues to grow. In 2023 alone, financial losses from scams targeting victims in East and Southeast Asia are estimated to be between $18 billion and $37 billion, according to the U.N. report. The region’s booming illicit economy has resulted in more professionalized and innovative methods of money laundering, with criminal groups emerging as global leaders in these activities.

A key factor in the rise of illicit activities is the use of cryptocurrency and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). These platforms, particularly those operating without sufficient oversight, have allowed transnational criminal groups to funnel large amounts of illegal proceeds into the financial system with little accountability. The report notes that these platforms are increasingly being used by major criminal syndicates to conduct their operations.

In an official statement, Masood Karimipour, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said that organized crime groups are “converging and exploiting vulnerabilities” in the region. “Leveraging technological advances, criminal groups are producing larger scale and harder to detect fraud, money laundering, underground banking, and online scams,” he explained in the UNODC’s press release. Karimipour also noted that Southeast Asia has become a testing ground for criminal networks to expand their reach and develop new criminal enterprises.

Rising use of AI in crime:

In addition to the proliferation of cryptocurrency-related crimes, the UNODC report also highlights the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological innovations by criminal organizations. These groups are integrating AI-driven tools like malware, deepfakes, and other advanced technologies into their schemes, which has significantly increased the scale and complexity of cyber fraud.

To address the growing threat posed by transnational criminal groups, the UNODC report calls for a more concerted effort from governments in Southeast Asia and around the world. The agency emphasizes the importance of recognizing the severity and global reach of this threat and taking steps to strengthen legislation, enforcement, and regulatory frameworks.

Karimipour stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “It is more critical than ever for governments to recognize the severity, scale, and reach of this truly global threat, and to prioritize solutions that address the rapidly evolving criminal ecosystem in the region.”