Overview

• A new UNODC report says signs point to the establishment and operation of a scam centre in Oecusse, linked to companies associated with the Oecusse Digital Centre free trade zone.
• East Timor authorities raided a suspected site on August 25, detaining more than 30 foreigners and seizing SIM cards and Starlink devices, with the trafficking status of those held still unclear.
• UN analysis connects the activity to convicted cybercriminals, offshore gambling operators, Cambodian casino networks, and triad-linked entities including ties to Wan Kuok-koi’s 14K network.
• Investigators describe a broader industry that has shifted locations despite regional crackdowns, using special economic zones and shell companies to mask operations and launder proceeds that total tens of billions of dollars annually.
• Some individuals linked to the Oecusse case held multiple passports via investment schemes and had IT qualifications, a pattern the UN says reflects evolving evasion tactics as Timor-Leste increases regional connectivity ahead of its ASEAN entry.