Author Patrick Winn on Organized Crime in Southeast Asia [Season 3, Episode 24]

The podcast is very pleased to welcome back journalist Patrick Winn, who previously appeared on the show in its very early days - episode 11 of season 1, to be precise. Patrick recently authored a book called “Hello Shadowlands: Inside the Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts, and Bomb-Scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia” and the subject matter is as exciting as the title would suggest.

Patrick discusses his time in Myanmar with gangs of militant Christians who kidnap drug addicts in an attempt to force them to go straight, his adventures in Vietnam with NVA veterans who ambush thugs stealing pet dogs for their meat, and violent gangs in the Philippines. Patrick also stresses the overwhelming size of the underworld dedicated to one drug - ‘ya baa’, a potent, cheap, mass-produced form of methamphetamine. Greg and Ed tease the details out of Patrick on how this criminal network affects Thailand and what the causes may be for the apparent increase in corrupt activities throughout Southeast Asia.

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