Recently, the Thai government has intensified its crackdown on online gambling fraud centers and gangs, leading to increasingly tense situations along the Thailand-Myanmar-Cambodia border. Against this backdrop, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo Province, Laos, seems to have taken the lead in announcing successful efforts to regulate the activities of scam centers. This area is located on the border of Chiang Saen District in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.
This initiative began in January 2025, led by the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Protection Bureau appointed by the Lao government, in cooperation with the Chinese investment group "Tongyikang Enterprise Group," which holds a 99-year franchise granted by the Lao government. The collaboration with the Lao government has been a significant force in driving the cleanup of scam center crimes in the area.
During this crackdown, the Deputy Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, Kanjin Puiramaneong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment of Laos, Satabandi Insi Chiang Mai, and the Vice Chairman of the Golden Triangle Economic Zone Management Committee, Gao Long, attended related meetings to assess the progress in combating scam center crimes.
The Deputy Director of the Lao Police, Brigadier General Vandon Surisak, reported that the activities of scam center gangs have significantly decreased under strict law enforcement over the past two years, and he stated that enforcement efforts would be further intensified in 2025 to completely curb gang influence.
A field investigation by the "National Television" into the Golden Triangle Economic Zone showed that although the number of customers in the area has declined, the casino at the Dok Ngiew Kham Hotel continues to operate as usual. Meanwhile, the area is undergoing large-scale construction, including residential buildings, a 300-bed hospital, an eight-lane highway, the Golden Triangle International Border Port, and Bokeo Airport (with an annual throughput capacity of 2 million passengers). The school system has also expanded to include secondary education.
Compared to the bustling scene during a visit in 2023, the Golden Triangle Economic Zone now appears much quieter. Many restaurants, bars, and hotels have closed, and some large buildings have been abandoned. Local residents generally believe that this decline is partly due to the severe crackdown on scam center gangs by the police forces of Laos, China, and Vietnam.
Although the Golden Triangle Economic Zone was once touted as a model of Lao economic zones, attracting government officials and international visitors, the influence of casino magnate Zhao Wei cannot be ignored. The international community still has doubts about whether the Golden Triangle Economic Zone is a "white city" or a "gray area." Zhao Wei has stated that he believes the city is a safe tourist destination and emphasized that the complexity is hard to understand without experiencing it firsthand.
This year, at the 22nd Kapok Flower Exhibition, Zhao Wei, the chairman of the Golden Triangle Economic Zone Council, was absent and has not appeared in public for months. Instead, Vice Chairman Gao Long attended significant events and emphasized at the meeting that Laos would continue to develop according to the established plans, especially promoting cooperation with China under the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative.
However, the most symbolic appearance was that of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos, General Vilei Lakangpong, who presided over the opening ceremony of the 22nd Kapok Flower Festival and attended with several senior officials. This move demonstrates the Lao government's support for the Golden Triangle Economic Zone. The joint appearance of Lao military and political leaders with senior officials of the Golden Triangle Economic Zone Committee showcases the strategic direction of the region's future development.
Although the Golden Triangle Economic Zone is frequently mentioned in connection with scam center gang activities, it is evident that the governments of Laos and China are seriously cooperating to clean up illegal activities in the area. Although the cleanup work is still ongoing, the strategic cooperation between the two countries in the Mekong River basin is becoming increasingly close, and the economic and security systems are gradually consolidating. The saying "The Dragon Emerges from the Mekong River Basin" may gradually become a reality.
