Massage parlour raid hits human trafficking

[rooster59]

Massage parlour raid hits human trafficking

By Khanathit Srihirundaj 
The Nation

 

Masseuses try to hide their identities after a raid at Victoria’s massage parlour yesterday, where many young women from neighbouring countries were working.

 

97 female workers from neighbouring countries found forced into sex trade.

 

A RAID ON a massage parlour in Rama 9 yesterday is expected to have a major impact on human trafficking movements in Thailand as most of the 100 workers found on the premises were young, illegal migrants from neighbouring countries who may have been forced to work in the sex trade. 

 

 

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) as well as Army and police officers raided the massage parlour in one of Bangkok’s well-known entertainment districts following allegations of human trafficking and the prostitution of girls under 18 years old.

 

 

DSI deputy chief Pol Colonel Songsak Raksaksakul led DSI officers, soldiers and administrative officials in the raid on Victoria’s: The Secret Forever massage parlour, with an arrest warrant for a man identified as “Kob”.

 

Following a tip-off from human trafficking buster Nvader, the operation was backed by a warrant to search the premises for Kob, who reportedly worked there as an “enticer”, and to gather related evidence.

 

Kob, who is also known as Boonsab Amornrattanasiri, 55, was arrested during the raid for his role in providing sex at the parlour. He could be charged with human trafficking as many of the workers were relatively young and possibly deceived or forced from foreign countries to work as prostitutes. 

The parlour was shut down immediately after the raid and police sought arrest warrants for another seven people. 

 

The case stemmed from a previous complaint, where a Myanmar girl under 18 had been lured into prostitution at the age of 12.

 

DSI officers took up the investigation last year as it reportedly linked criminals in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia who preyed on girls under 18. 

 

It was alleged that the gang had recruited underage virgin girls from outside of Thailand to provide sex services. The girls were then sent to perform sex work at the Bangkok massage parlour, a form of human trafficking. 

 

The investigation identified seven suspects who are now covered by court-ordered arrest warrants, including Kob.

As many as 97 young female workers were found at the parlour during the raid. 

 

Their nationalities including Thai, Myanmar and Laos, and many of them carried no identity card. 

 

Human trafficking has been a serious problem in the kingdom for years. While the government said it has worked hard to reduce the problem, Thailand was graded by the US Department of State as Tier2 on a watch list last year as it failed to fully meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

 

The authority said on Thursday that it expected the US would upgrade Thailand’s status in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report this year as concerned agencies have worked effectively to reduce the problem. 

 

The cabinet would endorse the latest report of work done by the government next week before forwarding it to Washington by the end of this month to clarify Thai accounts. 

 

The US would take months to evaluate the report before the release of the TIP report by the middle of this year. 

 

The report to the US would mention law enforcement and prosecution over the traffickers and masterminds as well as prevention of trafficking. 

 

The rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked persons are also included in the measures stepped up by the authorities over the past year, according to Social Development and Human Security Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30336132

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-13

[KKr]

let's hope the girls can go home, and whoever approved the choice for them to work abroad in uncertain circumstances, makes wiser decisions in future.

[amvet]

They arrest the women and put them in jail for a couple of years making cheap clothes while the cops pretend they are learning a trade.  Nasty system. 

[Thongkorn]

2 minutes ago, amvet said:

They arrest the women and put them in jail for a couple of years making cheap clothes while the cops pretend they are learning a trade.  Nasty system. 

The women should be treated as Victims not Criminals.

[Sydebolle]

97 girls from neighboring countries in ONE massage parlour and everyone is surprised. Well, if this is so, then clean up the entire act - which will affect the lining of certain pockets of the BiBs. Legalize the trade, tax them, ensure legal age limits are observed and everybody is happy. 

The trade is too old and not even Thailand could rid the planet of it (i.e. even if they wanted) so go forward; so done in many European countries; no crime, no underage problem. 

[Rhys]

Somebody did not want to pay...

 

[bangkokfrog]

Well done to the police, who it seems can enforce the law when put in a position where they have no other option. Much publicity is given to foreign sex tourists, but the reality is that most of the sex trade in Thailand (and the human trafficking of young girls associated with it) appears to me to be  aimed at satisfying the "needs" of domestic phu yais.

[4MyEgo]

Would never raid one of their own, would they, nevertheless one less establishment is one less establishment, isn't it

[Cranky]

In the main these places are great;  good value, (you know exactly what your going to pay) clean, well managed and safe. Clientele is well behaved, girls are discrete, polite, know exactly how to please and fill the alloted time of your choosing.  Main reason for all of this is that they are managed to cater for well-heeled asian clients.  As a Whitey Farang you need to behave yourself and be presentable to even get to go in.

 

Go-go/beer bar/street scene on the other hand is; crap value (could end up costing twice as much as a rub-in-a-tub) unless you scrape the bottom of the barrel in which case it is dangerous and not exactly clean.  Dodgy girls (or boys), rude, pushy, money-grabbing and can't wait to do the deed and split in a flash to hunt down more prey on the pole or the street.

 

 

[lonewolf99]

28 minutes ago, Cranky said:

In the main these places are great;  good value, (you know exactly what your going to pay) clean, well managed and safe. Clientele is well behaved, girls are discrete, polite, know exactly how to please and fill the alloted time of your choosing.  Main reason for all of this is that they are managed to cater for well-heeled asian clients.  As a Whitey Farang you need to behave yourself and be presentable to even get to go in.

 

Go-go/beer bar/street scene on the other hand is; crap value (could end up costing twice as much as a rub-in-a-tub) unless you scrape the bottom of the barrel in which case it is dangerous and not exactly clean.  Dodgy girls (or boys), rude, pushy, money-grabbing and can't wait to do the deed and split in a flash to hunt down more prey on the pole or the street.

 

 

Have you any idea what these females go through to end up in this sh*thole place? Obviously not if all you are worried about is the cost and cleanliness of the trafficked and underage sex workers....

 

Edited January 14, 2018 by lonewolf99

[Bluespunk]

On 1/13/2018 at 3:26 AM, rooster59 said:

It was alleged that the gang had recruited underage virgin girls from outside of Thailand to provide sex services. The girls were then sent to perform sex work at the Bangkok massage parlour, a form of human trafficking. 

 

It's not a "form" of human trafficking...it's a text book definition of human trafficking.

[Cranky]

2 minutes ago, lonewolf99 said:

Have you any idea what these females go through to get this sh*thole place? Obviously not if all you are worried about is the cost and cleanliness................of human trafficking and underage sex!

 

Yes, It's quite a stringent process to get such a well paid job and the ladies have certain standards to meet.  Shitholes they are not; quite the contrary, they are among the most well-appointed, well-run and policed brothels in the world.  No interest in trafficking or underage at all as this is not related in any way.  99% of the ladies want to be there and are free to leave whenever they want. 

 

You bleeding heart tree-huggers are the ones that have no idea what is reality when it comes to this line of work in this country.

[Bluespunk]

42 minutes ago, Cranky said:

In the main these places are great;  good value, (you know exactly what your going to pay) clean, well managed and safe. Clientele is well behaved, girls are discrete, polite, know exactly how to please and fill the alloted time of your choosing.  Main reason for all of this is that they are managed to cater for well-heeled asian clients.  As a Whitey Farang you need to behave yourself and be presentable to even get to go in.

 

Go-go/beer bar/street scene on the other hand is; crap value (could end up costing twice as much as a rub-in-a-tub) unless you scrape the bottom of the barrel in which case it is dangerous and not exactly clean.  Dodgy girls (or boys), rude, pushy, money-grabbing and can't wait to do the deed and split in a flash to hunt down more prey on the pole or the street.

 

 

Yeah, they're just great...

 

On 1/13/2018 at 3:26 AM, rooster59 said:

The case stemmed from a previous complaint, where a Myanmar girl under 18 had been lured into prostitution at the age of 12.

 

[coulson]

1 hour ago, Cranky said:

In the main these places are great;  good value, (you know exactly what your going to pay) clean, well managed and safe. Clientele is well behaved, girls are discrete, polite, know exactly how to please and fill the alloted time of your choosing.

I think you may be referring to a different class of establishment where the staff are local, not slaves from neighbouring countries.

[The manic]

20 hours ago, KKr said:

let's hope the girls can go home, and whoever approved the choice for them to work abroad in uncertain circumstances, makes wiser decisions in future.

Let the USA address it's own problems before preaching to the rest of the world.

[The manic]

41 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

It's not a "form" of human trafficking...it's a text book definition of human trafficking.

Far from being trafficked forcefully these girls who are told to tell authorities they were trafficked usually regard this line of work as an opportunity to make money. Turn to the UK and USA in the west or Pakistan, Afghanistan etc in the East to genuinely  rescue children from rape, grooming economic enslavement, forced marriage .

[Bluespunk]

12 minutes ago, The manic said:

Far from being trafficked forcefully these girls who are told to tell authorities they were trafficked usually regard this line of work as an opportunity to make money. Turn to the UK and USA in the west or Pakistan, Afghanistan etc in the East to genuinely  rescue children from rape, grooming economic enslavement, forced marriage .

You're telling me the 12 year old mentioned in the OP, willingly entered into prostitution.

 

BS, she did.

 

To justify and defend the practice of trafficking and sexual exploitation with the words they "regard this line of work as an opportunity to make money" sickens me.

Edited January 14, 2018 by Bluespunk

[The manic]

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

You're telling me the 12 year old mentioned in the OP, willingly entered into prostitution.

 

BS, she did.

 

To justify and defend the practice of trafficking and sexual exploitation with the words they "regard this line of work as an opportunity to make money" sickens me.

If its true. OK there was one 12 year old mentioned. If its true but when was she 12. How old is she and her workmates when they were arrested? This Story stinks. I have two friends who travel abroad to provide sex services in Korea, Japan and Malaysia.  They are always told to say they were tricked or forced by someone.

[Bluespunk]

5 minutes ago, The manic said:

If its true. OK there was one 12 year old mentioned. If its true but when was she 12. How old is she and her workmates when they were arrested? This Story stinks. I have two friends who travel abroad to provide sex services in Korea, Japan and Malaysia.  They are always told to say they were tricked or forced by someone.

What stinks is justifying and defending human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

 

From the OP:

 

"The case stemmed from a previous complaint, where a Myanmar girl under 18 had been lured into prostitution at the age of 12."

 

She was prostituted at the age of 12.

 

That's what the scum behind these ''parlours'' do.

 

They are filth.

 

Defending them is incomprehensible to me.

Edited January 14, 2018 by Bluespunk

[The manic]

7 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

You're telling me the 12 year old mentioned in the OP, willingly entered into prostitution.

 

BS, she did.

 

To justify and defend the practice of trafficking and sexual exploitation with the words they "regard this line of work as an opportunity to make money" sickens me.

But true whether you like it or not so be sick on them not me. People who cross borders to provide sex services are not necessarily trafficked against their will. What heavenly place do you come from which is crime free. The worst exploitation of children is economic with child labourers as young as 5 working twelve hour shifts in factories and construction sites often in permanent indentured labour paying of their parents debts in perpetuity.  So spare me your crocodile tears created only by the sexsationalist aspect of this while you ignore the real plight of millions of children in the world.

[The manic]

5 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

What stinks is justifying and defending human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

 

From the OP:

 

"The case stemmed from a previous complaint, where a Myanmar girl under 18 had been lured into prostitution at the age of 12."

 

She was prostituted at the age of 12.

 

That's what the scum behind these ''parlours'' do.

 

They are filth.

 

Defending them is incomprehensible to me.

These cases always have more dimension  to them than the MSM and authorities tell us. In 25 years of mongering in Thailand I have only seen what looked like an under age worker once - Under 18. I complained to the manager who told me they could do nothing as she was the daughter of a senior PO . At least I tried. What have you ever done apart from show self congratulatory self righteousness? You think you occupy moral high ground but you don't.

[brewsterbudgen]

They arrest the women and put them in jail for a couple of years making cheap clothes while the cops pretend they are learning a trade.  Nasty system. 

You know this for a fact. In my experience underage girls have been sent home to their families or housed in care. Unfortunately many soon return to the business.

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[brewsterbudgen]

97 girls from neighboring countries in ONE massage parlour and everyone is surprised. Well, if this is so, then clean up the entire act - which will affect the lining of certain pockets of the BiBs. Legalize the trade, tax them, ensure legal age limits are observed and everybody is happy. 

The trade is too old and not even Thailand could rid the planet of it (i.e. even if they wanted) so go forward; so done in many European countries; no crime, no underage problem. 

That's how it is now. Soapies/massage parlours can operate legally, including the provision of special services, as long as they follow the law established to regulate such places. Employing underage workers or non-Thais with work permits breaks the law.

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[Bluespunk]

21 minutes ago, The manic said:

These cases always have more dimension  to them than the MSM and authorities tell us. In 25 years of mongering in Thailand I have only seen what looked like an under age worker once - Under 18. I complained to the manager who told me they could do nothing as she was the daughter of a senior PO . At least I tried. What have you ever done apart from show self congratulatory self righteousness? You think you occupy moral high ground but you don't.

I don't use such places.

 

I don't add to the profits the filth running them make.

 

I don't defend their sexual exploitation.

 

If that's the moral high ground in your view, then yes I occupy it, however in my view acting that way, is just showing a sense of right and wrong.

 

[Bluespunk]

34 minutes ago, The manic said:

But true whether you like it or not so be sick on them not me. People who cross borders to provide sex services are not necessarily trafficked against their will. What heavenly place do you come from which is crime free. The worst exploitation of children is economic with child labourers as young as 5 working twelve hour shifts in factories and construction sites often in permanent indentured labour paying of their parents debts in perpetuity.  So spare me your crocodile tears created only by the sexsationalist aspect of this while you ignore the real plight of millions of children in the world.

Where did i defend any of those other practices?

 

Wait...

 

Let me check...

 

Oh look...

 

I didn't.

 

Trafficking is evil and sexual exploitation is as well.

 

Stop defending it by blaming those trafficked.

Edited January 14, 2018 by Bluespunk

[amvet]

34 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You know this for a fact. In my experience underage girls have been sent home to their families or housed in care. Unfortunately many soon return to the business.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Moreover, ‘many of the agencies working with “trafficking victims” in fact illegally detain sex workers after they have been rounded up in police raids. I have met sex workers who have been held against their will for up to three months

 

Usually, they teach them things like sewing and in that way offer ready-trained workers for the garment industry, where women are indeed exploited and paid paltry wages

 

Malee Van Derberg 

Edited January 14, 2018 by amvet

[brewsterbudgen]

Moreover, ‘many of the agencies working with “trafficking victims” in fact illegally detain sex workers after they have been rounded up in police raids. I have met sex workers who have been held against their will for up to three months
 
Usually, they teach them things like sewing and in that way offer ready-trained workers for the garment industry, where women are indeed exploited and paid paltry wages
 
Malee Van Derberg 

That's shocking. Do you have experience of this in Thailand?

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[55Jay]

Very possible the parents of that 12 year old got a handful of sweaty money as well.

 

I just can't wrap my head around an adult, Thai, farang, whatever, who gets his or her jollies off a child.  Da fuq is wrong with these people. 

[amvet]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

That's shocking. Do you have experience of this in Thailand?

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Read the sign that the lady is holding with the Thai cop.  

[brewsterbudgen]

Read the sign that the lady is holding with the Thai cop.  

What does it say?

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