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Human trafficking

Human trafficking
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Human trafficking. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban in Tarlac province accused of human trafficking and ties to Chinese organised crime, is escorted to a press conference in Manila on September 6, 2024. A Philippine court later sentenced her and seven others to life in prison on human-trafficking charges. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines denies ex-mayor Alice Guo has received special treatment in prison

Officials refuted reports that Guo, who recently began serving a life sentence, possessed a phone and had received unauthorised visitors.

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United States

Epstein files to be unsealed under new Trump-signed law

United States

Judge approves release of Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records

Nepal

‘Like a market’: Chinese marriage brokers hunt for brides in Nepal

China’s bachelor crisis meets Nepal’s poverty in a trade that blurs the lines between arranged marriage and coercion.

A screenshot of a WeChat account that posts videos of Nepali girls and hosts live streams. Photo: Handout
Thailand

‘Everyone gets a cut’: why Southeast Asia’s scam industry refuses to die

Authorities are seizing assets and raiding compounds, but analysts warn the clumsy crackdown is merely scattering syndicates to new hideouts.

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Trending in China

China hiker wears clothing tag to support missing children and expand search

Brand’s owner says that tags featuring information about missing children have been part of their public welfare initiative for four years.

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Sexual harassment and assault

Photos of Epstein’s notorious private island released by US Democrats

The luxury Caribbean hideout is where the convicted sex offender allegedly forced underage girls into sex with powerful men.

A drone view shows a pool on Little St James, a small private island formerly owned by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: Reuters
Europe’s refugee crisis

Illegal migrants to UK face clothing and mouth searches for phones, SIM cards

The Home Office says the new powers are needed to gather intelligence quickly on criminal gangs suspected of smuggling migrants.

Trending in China

Survivor of child trafficking in China becomes multimillionaire; inspires public

Her adoptive parents were never abusive, but Zeng felt a persistent disconnect; in school, classmates labelled her ‘the picked-up child’.

Myanmar

Political show? Why Myanmar is again cracking down on cyber scammers

Myanmar’s junta has been under pressure to raid fraud hubs by China as its citizens have been badly affected by these scammers, analysts say.

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White smoke billows after an explosion at KK Park online scam centre in Myawaddy, Myanmar, on October 25, Photo: AP
South Korea

Seoul sanctions Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi in Cambodia crime crackdown

Chen Zhi, the chairman of the Prince Group, is accused of overseeing scam compounds that detained dozens of South Koreans.

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Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi. Photo: Prince Holding Group
The Philippines

As Philippines targets more Pogo figures, can Marcos regain public trust?

The flood-control scandal has a bigger impact on the Philippine president’s approval rating than any anti-Pogo moves, analysts say.

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Malaysia

‘Forced to hide just to sleep’: Indonesian helper rescued after years of abuse

The victim was told to hide under a vehicle to avoid detection during a raid at a home in Batu Caves.

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Crime

US Justice Department renews bid to unseal Epstein grand jury materials

Justice Department says a new law - signed by Trump - supersedes prior rulings to keep the highly anticipated transcripts sealed.

A statue depicting US President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in Washington in October. Photo: AP
Crime

Video | Ex-Philippine mayor Alice Guo gets life term for human trafficking

The verdict comes at a time when Asean leaders have expressed alarm over rising cybercrimes perpetrated by transnational gangs.

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Malaysia

Malaysia court charges 11 shipwreck survivors with illegal entry

Rescued after their boat capsized, the Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants face jail or caning, but did not understand the charges read in court.

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Asean

Asean unifies under single extradition treaty to fight organised crime

The treaty is expected to plug major cooperation gaps by creating uniform rules across a region struggling with cybercrime and trafficking.

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Donald Trump

US Congress approves release of Epstein files, sending bill to Trump

Measure passes with near-unanimous support after Trump ended his opposition, clearing the way for disclosure of unclassified records.

National Director of World Without Exploitation Lauren Hersh embraces Jeffrey Epstein survivor Liz Stein as they react to the Senate’s passing of the bill to force the release of the files. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

US House pushes forward on Epstein files vote after Trump reversal

The House of Representatives looks all but certain to vote on one of modern America’s most notorious case files.

US-Asean relations

What US anti-scam ‘strike force’ means for Southeast Asia’s cybercrime fight

Analysts say the US initiative can serve as a coordination blueprint to push back against transnational criminal enterprises.

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Jeffrey Epstein

In reversal, Trump says House should vote to release the Epstein files

The president’s shift follows a fierce fight within the Republican Party over the files, including an increasingly nasty split with Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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US President Donald Trump reads text from a laptop aboard Marine One on Sunday. Photo: AP
Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Thailand extradites gambling kingpin She Zhijiang to China

She Zhijiang will stand trial in China for illegal casino operations.

Thai court upholds extradition of Chinese gambling kingpin She Zhijiang
United States

Epstein alleged Trump ‘knew about the girls’ in emails released by Democrats

The convicted sex offender said in a message to Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had ‘spent hours’ with one of the victims at his house.

Japan

Tokyo man arrested for employing 12-year-old Thai girl at massage parlour

A 51-year-old man is under investigation for violating labour laws and possible human trafficking.

South Korea

South Korea, Cambodia form joint task force to tackle scam networks

About 2,000 South Koreans are estimated to have been ensnared in online scam operations in Cambodia.

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South Koreans suspected of being involved in online scams are herded together during a raid on a scam centre in Phnom Penh on Thursday. Photo: Agence Kampuchea Press/AFP
Myanmar

Video | Myanmar scam workers swim for Thai border

More than 600 people fled one of Myanmar’s scam compounds and crossed into Thailand, with some choosing to swim across the Moei river.

Hundreds flee Myanmar’s scam compounds for Thailand
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Thailand

Thai minister quits amid Cambodia scam and crypto controversy

Vorapak Tanyawong denied any involvement in illicit activities on Wednesday, telling reporters he was quitting to focus on his legal defence.

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Hong Kong stock market

Director of Hong Kong-listed FSM Holdings resigns amid Cambodia allegations

Resignation follows US authorities’ accusation that Li Thet was involved with criminal network linked to Prince Holding Group.

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