Organized crime “Control” in Asia: experiences from India, China, and the Golden Triangle

In recent decades, the vast Asian region has experienced the same globalizing trends and rapid trade liberalization as the rest of the world. However, policies for controlling organized crime in Asia are underdeveloped compared with elsewhere. For global law enforcement, this is worrisome because as the weight of economic and demographic influence shifts to Asia many countries are struggling to enforce their current laws, and regionwide crime control initiatives are lackluster at best. Furthermore, the overlap between terrorist and crime networks appears problematic in many parts of Asia. This article suggests that inconsistent crime control in Asia will continue to fertilize the criminal groups that have come to make “thug,” “triad,” and “Golden Triangle” notable parts of the international language of criminal organization.