What Do We Know About Human Trafficking and Scam Compounds in Southeast Asia (2020–2025)? A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Coercive Deviant Enterprises
What Do We Know About Human Trafficking and Scam Compounds in Southeast Asia (2020–2025)? A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Coercive Deviant Enterprises
Suleman Lazarus Mina Chiang Rossitza Stefanova Dimitrova Theint Theint Thu Enobong Essien a London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) London, UKb University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africac Humanity Research Consultancy Limited, Hove, UKd University of Surrey, Guildford, UKe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo, NigeriaDr Suleman Lazarus holds all his university degrees from the UK, including a PhD in Cybercrime and Criminology from the University of Portsmouth. He is an Associate Editor for the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) journal, Digital Threats: Research and Practice. Dr Lazarus developed the Tripartite Cybercrime Framework (TCF), classifying cybercrimes into socioeconomic, psychosocial, and geopolitical motivational groups. Dr Lazarus also introduced and developed the term “Scholar-Baiting,” a sub-genre of spear phishing defined as a narrative-based form of social engineering in which cybercriminals exploit epistemic trust, academic identity, and emotionally charged narratives to deceive researchers and scholars. He has published on diverse topics like “prosperity theology,” “citation politics,” “nomophobia”, “cybercriminal networks,” and “Hustle Kingdoms.” His works have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Life Writing, Telematics and Informatics, Security Journal, Journal of Human Trafficking, and Critical Research on Religion. His research extends across regions such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Ireland and the United Kingdom.Mrs Mina Chiang is a sought-after expert in combating human trafficking, especially for her research in survivor empowerment, combating slavery in the scamming compounds in Southeast Asia, and ending forced labour in the fishing industry. Through her work, Mina offers technical advice to UN agencies, Interpol, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. She is an international speaker and has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, and Sky News. Mina is the founder and Director of Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC), an award-winning social enterprise fighting against human trafficking by bringing in experts from the Global South. Her extensive research portfolio includes projects for organisations such as USAID, BIICL, RSO of the Bali Process, Humanity United, and Freedom Fund. She holds a Master’s from the Institute of Development Studies.Ms Rossitza Stefanova Dimitrova is an emerging critical voice focused on understanding organised and/or systemic harm through mixed-methods approaches. Her work is based on a community-to-people-centred approach, prioritising precision, integrity, and quality.Ms Theint Theint Thu is a PhD Candidate at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research examines street-level bureaucracy, citizen–state interactions, and service delivery during Myanmar’s democratic transition, with particular insights from the Thai–Myanmar border.Mrs Enobong Essien is a superintendent and senior prosecutor at Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She holds a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in law. Mrs Essien has investigated and prosecuted numerous financial crimes, such as investment fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime. She has contributed significantly to the recovery of high-value assets through civil forfeiture actions.