Gavin Butler

Senior Reporter

gavin.butler@vice.com

Gavin is an award-winning reporter covering drugs, crime and trafficking around the world, with a focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Crime

‘The Truth Will Be Loud’: Thailand’s Former Brothel Baron Is Using His Infamy to Fight Crime

Bangkok's reformed "super pimp" is on a one-man crusade against gangsters, politicians, and police. And he's getting results.
Gavin Butler
Caleb Quinley
5.5.23
Crime

Police Arrest Woman Suspected of Murdering 12 Acquaintances With Cyanide

Investigators think the serial killings were motivated by money.
Gavin Butler
4.27.23
conflict

‘A Powder Keg’: 6 Dead After Attempt to Rescue Kidnapped Pilot Turns Into Bloodbath

The man's captors told VICE World News that further attempts to rescue him could jeopardise his safety.
Gavin Butler
4.18.23
TikTok

Australia Bans TikTok On Government Devices Amid ‘Security Concerns’

Fears of data harvesting and foreign interference are prompting a growing number of Western nations to crack down on the Chinese social media app.
Gavin Butler
4.4.23
Afghanistan

Infamous YouTuber ‘Lord Miles’ Among UK Nationals Detained by the Taliban

The self-styled dark tourist has been seen in his videos joining a Taliban parade and firing guns with militants.
Gavin Butler
4.3.23
Myanmar conflict

‘Only Thing We Can Do Is Run’: 22 Civilians Massacred While Sheltering in a Monastery

The Myanmar military is torturing, mutilating and murdering civilians in a string of violent massacres.
Gavin Butler
3.15.23
Drugs

$677 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized in Australia’s Biggest Ever Drug Bust

Australians are some of the world’s biggest cocaine users. This one shipment was equivalent to half their estimated annual consumption.
Gavin Butler
3.6.23
conflict

ISIS-K Is Waging a New War in Afghanistan—This Time Against China

The Afghanistan arm of the Islamic State is targeting Chinese nationals in a bid to “avenge” Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
Gavin Butler
3.1.23
Crime

Kidnappers Want $1 Million for These Researchers. Police are Considering ‘Lethal Force.’

A university professor and three students were on a field trip when bandits abducted them at gunpoint in Papua New Guinea's highlands.
Gavin Butler
2.21.23
Extreme weather

Thousands Uncontactable As New Zealand Grapples with Its Worst Natural Disaster ‘This Century’

Senior politicians are urging the prime minister to bring in the military to assist police with reports of violence and looting.
Gavin Butler
2.20.23
South China Sea

China Is Accused of Shooting ‘Military-Grade’ Lasers in Contested Waters

Crew members onboard a Philippine Coast Guard vessel were temporarily blinded after the lasers targeted their ship.
Gavin Butler
2.14.23
Press Freedom

Strongman Ruler Shuts Down News Outlet For ‘Attack’ on His Son

Cambodian leader Hun Sen told the journalists to “find a job elsewhere” for reporting that his son had approved $100,000 in humanitarian aid to Turkey.
Gavin Butler
Alastair McCready
2.13.23
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