TON PHEUNG (LAOS): I felt restless at night after being followed and watched by the syndicate's informants in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) here.
I joined the mission organised by the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) to rescue eight Malaysians who had been forced to work as scammers in various 'companies' within the GTSEZ recently.
The three-day mission was led by MHO's human trafficking unit head, Azirul Syafiq Sazali, along with investigative documentary crews from Indonesia.
The mission began when a group of 10 entered Laos through the border gate in Chiang Saen, Thailand, taking a 10-minute boat ride across the Mekong River, approximately 400 metres wide.
Upon checking into a hotel, the MHO team and I observed the GTSEZ and the Kings Romans Casino surroundings, which are said to be a hub for money laundering in Asia.
I had to act as a tourist to record videos and take pictures, as GTSEZ authorities prohibit any filming within the zone without permission.
It felt as though our presence had been detected as we were constantly being watched by private security guards in the area.
Several groups, believed to be from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Africa, were also seen around the area, suspected of working as scammers.
However, for safety reasons, I was advised not to interact with or film the workers involved.
It is understood that the victims are free to come and go from the syndicate's operational centres, but they can only move within the GTSEZ and must wear a special identification tag indicating they are 'owned' by a specific syndicate.
My observation was temporarily halted when the team realised they were being followed by what appeared to be the syndicate's informants, along with private security personnel monitoring the zone.
The situation became tense when several unregistered vehicles began tailing my group and taking photos, prompting the decision to return to the hotel for safety reasons.
As we walked back to the hotel, several security vehicles, with their siren lights flashing, slowed down every time they passed by the group.
It was clear that our presence was unsettling the criminal syndicate operating in the area, as every victim successfully rescued resulted in a loss for the criminals.
The following day, we received bad news when all syndicate-run companies prohibited Malaysian nationals from leaving their premises.
However, MHO managed to bring five Malaysians in their 20s out of the GTSEZ and placed them in a safe house owned by a local resident, located about five kilometres from the special economic zone.
It is understood that the syndicate only has influence within the GTSEZ area and typically does not interfere with local affairs outside the zone.
The victims who were successfully rescued, however, could not return home and had to remain at the safe house while MHO negotiated to retrieve their passports.
It is understood that the GTSEZ, which spans 3,000 hectares and is allegedly controlled by a Chinese mafia, lies along the Mekong River and borders three countries: Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
The area is said to be controlled by a Chinese tycoon often linked to various criminal activities, and the GTSEZ security force comprises private security guards.
Unlike other parts of Laos, the GTSEZ features luxury casinos, hotels, and various facilities, including well-maintained infrastructure like roads.
At first glance, the rapid development and complete infrastructure in the area hardly reflect Laos' status as one of the poorest countries in the world.
Instead, it resembles the famous gambling hub, Las Vegas, in the United States.