Family’s Desperate Plea After 19-Year-Old Vanishes in Thailand.
A British teenager has vanished in Thailand amid growing fears he has been lured by a Chinese-run scam network operating in neighbouring Myanmar.
Lawrence Honour, 19, was last seen leaving a hotel in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, on September 27 before trying to cross into Myanmar.
Lawrence Honour, 19, has been missing for over a weekCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress.
His family say they have not heard from him since, and police believe he may now be trapped in one of Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds.
“He Was Quiet But Brilliant” — Mother Speaks Out
His mother, Gulnara Honour, who lives in Thailand with his father Julian, said she last saw her son on September 26.
“He left home that day, and we were unable to contact him,” she said. “I checked his email and saw travel records in Kanchanaburi. It was very worrying.”
Describing him as a shy but highly intelligent boy who was “excellent with computers,” she fears he may have been tricked by people online.
Fears of Forced Labour in Scam Centres
“I’m afraid that he’s been groomed online and lured into one of those scam centres in Myanmar,” she said. “They don’t let people leave.”
Authorities say thousands of people, including foreigners, have been forced to work in cybercrime factories run by Chinese triads and militias in border areas.
Last Known Movements Captured on CCTV
Police confirmed Lawrence was seen on CCTV leaving his hotel at around 3:30 p.m. on September 27.
He then tried to cross the border but was refused entry by guards because the area was closed due to ongoing conflict.
Attempted Illegal Crossing and Disappearance
Officials said he later tried to climb a fence into Myanmar before being stopped and told to return home.
They claim they arranged for him to board a van back to his hotel, but records show he never got on.
Witnesses later saw him hitchhiking near Sai Yok Waterfall, about 40km from the border.
Police Searching for Driver Who Picked Him Up
A witness said a passing teacher stopped and offered him a lift. Police are now trying to trace the driver, who may be the last person to see him.
Colonel Santi Phitaksakul, superintendent of Sangkhlaburi Police, said: “The boy’s mother said she still has hope. She doesn’t know how he ended up here.”
Military Cooperation Requested to Track Teen
He added, “The last contact was when he was already in Sangkhlaburi. Witnesses saw him at Sai Yok Waterfall, saying he was heading to the border.”
Authorities now believe he may have crossed through unofficial routes into Myanmar.
“Informants have reported sightings of someone resembling him,” Colonel Santi said. “We are waiting for confirmation.”
Police Probe Trafficking Angle
Police say they are not ruling out the possibility that Lawrence was tricked by online recruiters offering fake tech jobs.
“It doesn’t look like a tourist trip,” one investigator said. “He may have been persuaded by someone connected to criminal groups.”
Rise of Cyber Slavery in Myanmar
Myanmar has become a global hub for cyber scam operations since its 2021 military coup.
Thousands of victims from across Asia are held captive in heavily guarded compounds, forced to defraud victims online under threat of violence.
Chinese Gangs and Militias Control Border Operations
Many of the scam centres are controlled by Chinese mafia networks in collusion with armed groups in Myanmar’s border regions.
Those who refuse to work face torture, starvation, or being sold to other networks.
US Sanctions Target Scam Factories
In September 2025, the US Treasury sanctioned nine entities running scam compounds in Shwe Kokko, Myanmar, and ten in Cambodia.
Officials described the sites as “criminal enterprises responsible for mass human trafficking and cyber fraud.”
Parents Plead for Answers
Back in Thailand, Lawrence’s parents are desperate for news.
His mother said, “We just want our boy home. He’s only 19, and he doesn’t deserve this.”
International Search Underway
Thai police have widened their search to nearby provinces, with help from Interpol and British consular officials.
Authorities are monitoring online groups known to recruit young foreigners into scam networks.
Human Rights Groups Sound Alarm
Activists warn that Lawrence’s disappearance highlights the growing scale of cyber slavery across Southeast Asia.
“These compounds operate like modern-day prisons,” said one campaigner. “People are tricked into going there and then trapped indefinitely.”
A Growing Regional Crisis
The surge in cybercrime operations across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos has alarmed global authorities.
Interpol has described it as one of the fastest-growing forms of human trafficking in Asia.
“He Deserves to Come Home”
Friends describe Lawrence as a talented coder with a bright future who loved technology and gaming.
“He wasn’t street-smart,” said one friend. “He was the kind of kid who trusted people too easily.”
Thai Police Working with Myanmar Counterparts
Police Colonel Santi said his team has requested support from Myanmar’s military administration to help locate the teenager.
He said: “We are working through official and local channels to confirm his whereabouts.”
No Confirmed Sightings So Far
As of this weekend, there have been no verified sightings of Lawrence on either side of the border.
Authorities remain hopeful but admit the longer he remains missing, the more dangerous his situation could become.
Family Says They Won’t Give Up
Despite the uncertainty, Lawrence’s parents say they will not give up searching for him.
“We believe he’s still alive somewhere,” his mother said. “Please, if anyone knows anything, help bring him home.”
M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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