Behind the Crimes: Human Trafficking, Scams, and Regional Cooperation Take Center Stage at 5th Emergency Response Network Meeting hosted by UNODC

As scam operations and trafficking for forced criminality continue to wreak havoc across Southeast Asia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is intensifying its regional response. This resolve was on full display at the 5th Emergency Response Network (ERN) meeting, held in Mae Sot, Tak Province; a Thai border town overlooking Myanmar’s infamous scam compounds.

Members of the ERN and UNODC viewing the scamming compounds along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

A Crisis at the Crossroads of Crime and Exploitation

The rapid rise of cyber fraud compounds, particularly in conflict-prone border zones like Myawaddy and Wah Lay in Myanmar, has underscored a new and insidious form of human trafficking. Victims, often lured with false promises of employment, are trafficked across borders and forced to participate in online scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and romance schemes under threat of violence, torture, or debt bondage. "These cyber fraud operations are not confined by borders; they are part of a wider regional challenge that is impacting communities, economies, and institutions across Southeast Asia", said Benedikt Hofmann, Acting Regional Representative for UNODC in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

A Regional Frontline Network

Six of the seven member nations represented of the 5th ERN meeting, Mae Sot, Thailand.

Launched in May 2024, the ERN was designed as a fast-action coordination platform bringing together police, cybercrime experts, and anti-trafficking officers from ASEAN member states; including Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. Its core mission: to rescue victims, dismantle scam operations, and share real-time intelligence on trafficking networks.

International cooperation is never easy, but also not impossible. It is key to addressing something of the magnitude of scam compounds and trafficking for forced criminality. The ERN shows that the right structure of an informal mechanism, with clear objectives and consistency, can bring positive tangible results and motivate members to work more closely. - Rebecca Miller, UNODC Regional Coordinator on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Humanising the Crisis

At the heart of the 5th ERN meeting was a keynote session by Mechelle B. J. Moore, CEO of Global Alms Incorporated, titled "Behind the Crimes: The Human Face of Scamming and Forced Criminality – Victim Identification and Support in Mae Sot". Drawing on extensive fieldwork and survivor support in Mae Sot, Moore shed light on the deeply personal human toll of forced criminality. Her address emphasised how victims are too often mischaracterized as criminals, despite overwhelming evidence of deception, coercion, and captivity.

Mechelle B. J. Moore speaking on "Behind the Crimes: The Human Face of Scamming and Forced Criminality – Victim Identification and Support in Mae Sot" at the 5th ERN meeting in Mae Sot, Thailand.

“Many victims are lured with promises of legitimate work, only to find themselves trapped, stripped of their passports, subjected to abuse, and coerced into scam operations under constant threat of violence,” Moore noted in her presentation. She called for full application of the non-punishment principle, which protects trafficking victims from being prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit. Moore’s intervention also highlighted the critical role of civil society organisations working along transit corridors like Mae Sot in victim identification, referral, and trauma-informed care.

Eyes on the Compounds

Participants at the Mae Sot meeting undertook a rare field visit along the Thailand-Myanmar border, observing scam compounds in Myanmar from the Thai side, such as Tai Chang and KK Park, and the Huai Hin Fon Checkpoint in Thailand. The proximity and scale of these operations shocked many. The visit reinforced the urgent need for bilateral cooperation, especially across regions where porous borders and armed control zones obstruct rescue operations and investigations.

Trust, Action, and a Growing Network

The 5th ERN meeting wasn’t only symbolic, it was strategic. Participants from across ASEAN developed parallel investigation plans for three cross-border trafficking cases, a historic milestone in trust and information sharing. They also laid out cooperative frameworks for victim repatriation and capacity building.

Six of the seven member nations represented of the 5th ERN meeting, Mae Sot, Thailand.

Thailand, in particular, announced steps toward the creation of a National Interagency Task Force to combat trafficking for forced criminality, a move welcomed by UNODC. “This reflects growing recognition that addressing transnational scams requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach,” said Hofmann. “UNODC stands ready to support this effort through technical assistance, intelligence sharing, and strengthening regional cooperation”.

Resilience Through Regional Unity

As thousands remain trapped in scam compounds, regional initiatives like the ERN are proving to be essential lifelines, not just in cracking down on traffickers, but in reclaiming the humanity of victims. Mechelle Moore’s message that "behind every scam statistic is a person robbed of choice and freedom" set the tone for a notable take away, not just on prosecution, but on protection.

The ERN will continue to hold coordination and capacity-building sessions in the months ahead, supported by international partners such as the European Union and the Government of Japan. But perhaps its greatest strength lies in its people: a growing community of frontline responders, civil society leaders, and survivors determined to rewrite the region’s response to trafficking, one rescue at a time.