Inside Sin City: Chinese gangs, scam centres and people trafficking episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 17, 2025 · 35 MIN

Inside Sin City: Chinese gangs, scam centres and people trafficking

from Iran: The Latest

Have you ever been scammed? If you have, the chances are that it happened somewhere in Asia. Often overseen by Chinese criminal gangs, the places where these scams are happening have become hubs for people trafficking, drugs trade, and prostitution.On today's episode, Venetia speaks to Global Health Security Correspondent Sarah Newey, who has visited Sin City in Laos, a scam centre hotspot. She tells us about what happens inside these compounds.We also hear from political analyst and Myanmar adviser to Crisis Group, Richard Horsey about why power vacuums are creating the perfect conditions for these criminal activities.Watch the visualised episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6nRBG037FT0Producer: Sophie O'SullivanExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsStudio Operator: Meghan Searle► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorContact us with feedback or ideas:[email protected] @venetiarainey@ascottgeddes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been scammed? If you have, the chances are that it happened somewhere in Asia. Often overseen by Chinese criminal gangs, the places where these scams are happening have become hubs for people trafficking, drugs trade, and prostitution.On today's episode, Venetia speaks to Global Health Security Correspondent Sarah Newey, who has visited Sin City in Laos, a scam centre hotspot. She tells us about what happens inside these compounds.We also hear from political analyst and Myanmar adviser to Crisis Group, Richard Horsey about why power vacuums are creating the perfect conditions for these criminal activities.Watch the visualised episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6nRBG037FT0Producer: Sophie O'SullivanExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsStudio Operator: Meghan Searle► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorContact us with feedback or ideas:[email protected] @venetiarainey@ascottgeddes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Inside Sin City: Chinese gangs, scam centres and people trafficking

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Have you ever been scammed? If you have, the chances are that it happened somewhere in Asia. Often overseen by Chinese criminal gangs, the places where these scams are happening have become hubs for people trafficking, drugs trade, and...

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