Regional K&R Developments - Southeast Asia - November 2025

Reported kidnap cases in Southeast Asia in November 2025 declined compared to common incident patterns observed throughout the region during previous reporting periods.

After widespread coverage in October of measures targeting transnational criminal networks running scam centres in Cambodia, November saw few significant new developments and the crackdown did not lead to the large-scale release of trafficking victims.

CAMBODIA

Cambodia Kidnap Gang Exposed – A Phnom Penh-based kidnapping and extortion gang systematically targeted foreign nationals by posing as law-enforcement officers. On 05 November, the group abducted a 29-year-old Chinese national, Long Jun, from a condominium in Boeung Keng Kang district at about 0320 hrs. The victim was extorted for more than USD 50000 before being released. On 19 November, police conducted coordinated raids across Phnom Penh, Kandal, Takeo, Kampot, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk, arresting eight Cambodian suspects. Authorities seized four handguns, ammunition, police and gendarmerie uniforms, handcuffs, two Toyota Prius vehicles and multiple mobile phones.

INDONESIA

Child Abduction in Makassar - On 14 November, a four-year-old girl was abducted from a park in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The abduction was part of an alleged child trafficking operation spanning multiple provinces including Jambi, Bali, Central Java, and Riau. Police located and rescued her in Jambi following coordinated investigations. The perpetrators are believed to be members of a syndicate involved in the illegal sale of children. The case remains under investigation with authorities coordinating across jurisdictions. Earlier this year police dismantled a West Java child abduction ring that trafficked more than 25 children selling at least 17 to couples in Singapore.

SINGAPORE

Singapore Teen Cross‑Border Abduction – On 24 November, a 15‑year‑old Singapore-based student was allegedly coerced to travel to Malaysia under the guise of assisting a money‑laundering probe, prompted by fake “Chinese officials.” The Singapore Police Force logged her as missing on 25 November. Malaysian authorities found the girl in Kuantan, Pahang, and she was returned to Singapore on 01 December 2025. The alleged abductor, a 22‑year‑old Chinese national, was charged in a Malaysian court with kidnapping and wrongful confinement.

THAILAND

Bangkok Express Kidnapping – A Chinese man was kidnapped and assaulted in Bangkok on 01 November by a group comprising two Thai nationals and one South Korean, who forced him into a Toyota sedan on Mahaseth Road, beat him and robbed him. The group stole USD 1540 in cash and coerced him into transferring 9375 USDT to an account linked to a 46-year-old South Korean man, before releasing him near Saensuk Soi beside Maleenont Tower. Thai police arrested the suspects sequentially between 10 and 23 November, with the South Korean suspect arrested last at a condominium on Sukhumvit Soi 24.

VIETNAM

Two Virtual Kidnaps Reported – In November 2025, two youths were targeted in separate “online‑kidnap” extortion schemes. In Hanoi, a 22-year old was reported missing on 26 November following a ransom demand of 500 million VND (approx. USD 21,300). Police located him on 27 November at a guesthouse in Bắc Ninh province, and he was safely returned to his family. In Nghệ An, an 17-year old was coerced into paying a ransom demand of 100 million VND (approx. USD 4,260) for a fabricated drug offence. Local police intervened promptly on 25 November and rescued the minor.

COMMENT: In 2025, Vietnam witnessed a rise in sophisticated virtual kidnaps, where perpetrators coerce victims through threats, police impersonation, and psychological manipulation, forcing the victim to self-isolate and pay a ransom to make fabricated allegations vanish. Our analysis about online kidnapping in Vietnam can be found here. COMMENT ENDS

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