Gavin Butler
Senior Reporter
gavin.butler@vice.comGavin is an award-winning reporter covering drugs, crime and trafficking around the world, with a focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Blacklisted Chinese-Made Cameras Found in Use at Australian Government Sites
“It is a major issue that these cameras have limited security and can be accessed remotely.”
Just 2 Meth Pills Could Soon Be Enough to Classify Drug Users as Dealers in Thailand
Experts say the law could spike prison populations to unprecedented levels.
Separatists Took a New Zealand Pilot Hostage. Now They’re Using Him to Barter for Independence.
The Papuan rebels say the abduction is retaliation for Western nations giving military aid to Indonesia.
Loved Abroad, but Divisive at Home: The Controversial Legacy of Jacinda Ardern
For many New Zealanders, the “real” Ardern is very different to the renowned politician seen around the world.
‘I Don’t Fly Here’: Nepal’s Plane Crash Highlights a Troubling Trend of Airline Disasters
Some experts say they’re “always expecting a tragedy in Nepal,” as the latest crash calls attention to alleged safety gaps in its airline industry.
Drug Raid Links Myanmar Army Chief’s Children to Notorious Weapons Dealer
The discovery connects the family to ongoing criminal proceedings, while also raising questions about involvement in other illicit activity.
After Decades, ‘Asia’s El Chapo’ Has Finally Been Charged by Police
Tse Chi Lop allegedly headed an alliance of five of Asia’s triad groups, that was more sophisticated than any Latin American cartel.
Celebration and Fear as Fiji Elects Its First New Leader in 15 Years
Many are hoping for Fiji's first ever peaceful transfer of power. But as the strongman leader remains silent on the election result, anxiety is spreading.
Suicide Bomber Attacks Police Station to Protest Indonesia's New Criminal Code
The bombing comes a day after the passage of a controversial ban on pre-marital sex, blasphemy, and the spreading of views counter to state ideology.
Buddhist Temple Left Without Monks After They All Test Positive for Meth
It follows a string of criminal scandals involving monks in Thailand, where authorities are reporting record-breaking quantities of synthetic drugs.
Police Finally Arrested This 65-Year-Old Transnational ‘Drug Queen’
Oanh Hà is from a family of notorious crime matriarchs, with her sister running one of Vietnam’s largest criminal empires before being murdered by the “Godfather of Saigon.”
Malaysia Sees Far-Right Islamists Rise as Election Ends in Hung Parliament
“People knew that Malaysia was heading towards a more conservative political outlook, but everybody was shocked.”