Massive profits are made through heroin smuggling By Geraldine Carroll in Bangkok Government ministers, police and academics from 22 countries are meeting in Thailand on Monday for the first Asia Pacific conference aimed at fighting international crime syndicates. The two-day conference will discuss initiatives to combat money laundering, trafficking in humans and drug smuggling. Delegates are also expected to debate the social costs of organised crime in the region. Vietnamese border guards with confiscated goods With national borders more porous than ever before due to globalisation, experts say criminals are posing an unprecedented challenge to developing nations struggling to cope with the social costs of organised crime. The convention will enable member states to seize and confiscate proceeds of organised crime and establish global support in fighting corruption.
Experts say international crime syndicates amassed hugh profits during Asia's economic crisis.
They say people struck by the regional meltdown were lured into the criminal world. The meeting will bring together delegates from 10 south-east Asian nations and other countries, including China, Japan, Australia, the United States and Canada. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other Asia-Pacific stories are at the foot of the page.