Previous UN reports have underpinned the connection between crime syndicates utilising the casino sector to launder money in Southeast Asia, however, they are now issuing a stark warning over the expansion efforts of these gangs.

The desire for expansion has largely been fuelled by intensified regulatory action across Southeast Asia, embodied by the widespread efforts to combat gangs in the Philippines. 

Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC Acting Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, commented: “We are seeing a global expansion of East and Southeast Asian organised crime groups.

“This reflects both a natural expansion as the industry grows and seeks new ways and places to do business, but also a hedging strategy against future risks should disruption continue and intensify in the region.”

“It spreads like a cancer,” Hofmann added. “Authorities treat it in one area, but the roots never disappear; they simply migrate. This has resulted in a situation in which the region has essentially become an interconnected ecosystem, driven by sophisticated syndicates freely exploiting vulnerabilities, jeopardising state sovereignty, and distorting and corrupting policy-making processes and other government systems and institutions.”

It comes amidst heightened awareness of the legislative crackdown on crime gangs across Southeast Asia, as a new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals that syndicates are now targeting many of the most remote, vulnerable and underprepared parts of the region.

Seth Ruden, Director, Global Advisory at BioCatch emphasised his belief that the expansion was “inevitable”, adding: “The Southeast Asian scam camps proved so lucrative and our efforts to disrupt their operations so futile that it was only a matter of time before copycats sprung up elsewhere in the world.

“Any geography with minimal governmental oversight and a history of corruption is a fantastic candidate for expansion. We’re no longer dealing with backroom scammers. These are transnational crime syndicates running industrial-scale fraud hubs from office parks, equipped with multilingual teams, AI-driven tools and access to a booming underground marketplace for scam kits and laundering services. 

“The professionalisation of this ecosystem is staggering. It’s clear that fragmented enforcement efforts aren’t enough. We need a globally coordinated, intelligence-led response that matches the scale, speed and sophistication of the threat.”

The ability of the gangs to continue thriving is elevated by their capacity to launder money, with cryptocurrency being cited as one avenue for this process. 

Furthermore, criminal groups have also enhanced their approach and transitioned to tap into more advanced cyber threat actors supported by adjacent money laundering networks, data brokers, and a range of malware, deepfake and other AI-driven technology services that allow them to adapt to crackdowns.

“The convergence between the acceleration and professionalisation of these operations on the one hand and their geographical expansion into new parts of the region and beyond on the other translates into a new intensity in the industry – one that governments need to be prepared to respond to,” Hofmann added.

The Isle of Man has also previously urged vigilance over the infiltration of Southeast Asian crime groups in the region.

With an update from the Cabinet Office describing the criminal landscape as “complex and sophisticated”. 

Underlining the significance of the threat, the Island’s authorities laid out plans seeking to improve its defences from threats through “significant and wide-reaching actions”, including investment in law enforcement and investigation capability and strengthening the Island’s immigration system and processes. 

Jane Poole-Wilson MHK, Deputy Chief Minister and AML/CFT Lead for the Isle of Man Government, commented: “The Isle of Man Government and the Island’s authorities take the illicit actions by transnational organised criminals to exploit the Island’s business environment and immigration security extremely seriously.

“These actions aim to ensure that any vulnerabilities are identified and that urgent action is taken to mitigate vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening the Island’s countering financial crime regime for the future. We will not tolerate the use of the Island for criminal activity and will not hesitate to act to disrupt and prosecute those responsible.”

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