Oct 5, 202616 minS1
On 7 August 2026, a school shooting occurred in Nonthaburi, Thailand – just six months after one in Songkhla, a southern province. The shooters from both tragic incidents were teenagers with registered firearms. With...
About this Podcast:
Across the Mekong, organized crime shapes daily life—from illegal casinos in the Golden Triangle and synthetic drug production in Vietnam, to human trafficking, cyber scams, and the looting of forests and wildlife. Mekong Matters is a new podcast from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) featuring experts, investigators and local leaders who expose how criminal networks operate in their communities and across borders—and why their reach extends far beyond South East Asia.In this series, we will be speaking on a diverse set of topics – from illegal casinos and laundering hubs - Synthetic drugs and cross-border drug trafficking - Human trafficking, forced scamming, and cyber-scam compounds - Corruption, shadow economies, and state capture - Money laundering and illicit finance - Wildlife trafficking, illegal rosewood logging, and environmental crime - Arms trafficking and smuggling routes - How crime impacts communities, healthcare, and governance.Why it
Pitch Analysis
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Contact path
Public web form
Booking probability
27%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
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Signup to Generate a PitchQuestions about Mekong Matters
What is Mekong Matters about?
Across the Mekong, organized crime shapes daily life, from illegal casinos in the Golden Triangle and synthetic drug production in Vietnam, to human trafficking, cyber scams, and the looting of forests and wildlife.
Who hosts Mekong Matters?
Mekong Matters is hosted by GI TOC. The show has published 12 episodes to date.
What has Mekong Matters covered recently?
Recent episodes include "Thailand has over 10 million Firearms. Where do they come from?" (5 October 2026, 16 minutes), "He Sold Stolen Identities, Now He Fights Deepfake Scams & other Cyber Crimes" (31 August 2026, 16 minutes), and "Scam Centers in Laos: How Cyber Scam Operations are Spreading Across the Country | Mekong Matters Podcast" (3 July 2026, 13 minutes).
How often does Mekong Matters publish?
Mekong Matters publishes roughly monthly, with episodes averaging 14 minutes across 12 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on Mekong Matters?
Booking probability for Mekong Matters is 27%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Mekong Matters requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Mekong Matters's contact route on record: public web form.
Who should pitch Mekong Matters?
The strongest fits for Mekong Matters are Courts, Police & Public Safety. Mekong Matters has a news audience.
About the host
GI TOC hosts Mekong Matters, a news podcast with 12 episodes published.
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Recent episodes
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
- Aug 31, 202616 minS1
He used to sell stolen identities to hackers, now he fights cyber crime. In this episode of Mekong Matters, Hieu Ngo, former cyber criminal turned cyber security expert and co-founder and CEO of Chống Lừa Đảo, explains...
- Jul 3, 202613 minS1
Cyber scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia have made headlines, but they are no less an issue in Laos and they are spreading across the country. In this episode of Mekong Matters, Phetmany Khemmana, Laos Field...
Episode #9
Cannabis Smuggling from Thailand
May 25, 202616 minS1<p>Thailand's cannabis decriminalization in 2022 opened the door to a booming industry — but without a clear legal framework, it also turned the country into a hotspot for cannabis trafficking. In this episode of Mekong...
- Mar 27, 202614 minS1
<p>Vietnam’s rapid fintech growth and high crypto adoption have created new vulnerabilities for money laundering—placing the country on the FATF Grey List in 2023. In this episode of Mekong Matters Chat Le Nguyen...
View More
- Feb 24, 202614 minS1
<p>In this episode of Mekong Matters, we examine how popular online games and adjacent platforms are being weaponized to target and exploit young people in Thailand.</p><p>Our guest Wirawan “Boom” Mosby, founder and...
- Feb 2, 202612 minS1
<p>In this episode of Mekong Matters, we turn to Laos, where girls and young women are being lured across borders by false promises of jobs, security, and marriage. Once separated from their families, many face forced...
Episode #4
Scams, trafficking, drugs, and money flows: Organized Crime in 2025 in the Mekong | Mekong Matters
Dec 29, 202519 minS1<p>In this end-of-year episode of Mekong Matters, we unpack how organized crime across the Mekong evolved in 2025, shedding light on the alarming developments that have taken place throughout the year. From...
Episode #3
Cambodian Migrant Workers Are Returning from Thailand: Labour Trafficking in Mekong | Mekong Matters
Dec 1, 202515 minS1<p>Border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have pushed thousands of Cambodian migrant workers to return home. They face debt, unemployment, and heightened risk of labour trafficking. In this Mekong Matters...
Oct 29, 202513 minS1<p>Thailand is grappling with a wave of financial crimes linked to Buddhist temples—embezzlement, money laundering, misuse of donations, and blackmail scandals involving senior abbots. Despite public scandals, donations...
- Oct 28, 20251 minS1
<p>Covering everything from illegal casinos to the synthetic drug trade. Our newest podcast focuses on how organized crime shapes the Mekong region and beyond. </p><p>Brought to you by the Observatory of Illicit...
Recent guests
Recent guests on Mekong Matters. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
H
Hieu Ngo
Chống Lừa Đảo
M
Madame Intana
Association for Development of Women and Legal Education
M
Moeun Tola
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights
Best industries to pitch Mekong Matters for
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