- UN reported that corruption and easier movement of people and goods helped traffickers
- An official from the organization said there is more than $60 billion of methamphetamine in the Southeast Asian market this year
BANGKOK: A UN report said organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia are flourishing in the illegal trafficking of drugs, wildlife, counterfeit goods and people.
The report noted that corruption and freer movement of people and goods have facilitated the trafficking.
It said organized crime groups in the region are becoming more mobile as they exploit areas with weak border control and use advanced logistics to move products.
Jeremy Douglas, a regional representative of the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime, said the cumulative value of the methamphetamine market is more than $60 billion this year. Facilitated by organized crime, the market has expanded since a 2013 study found the accumulated value was $15 billion.