Australian Tourist Crashes Pickup Truck into Pattaya Drugstore

[Georgealbert]

 

 

In a major crackdown on human trafficking, police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division raided two bars in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, on charges of covertly offering underage prostitution services to foreign tourists. The bars were targeted following an extensive investigation based on intelligence reports that indicated illegal activities were taking place behind the facade of normal bar operations.

 

The raid, which occurred earlier this week, uncovered the involvement of two bars in a scheme to exploit underage persons for sexual services. Foreign tourists were reportedly charged a “bar fine” to take minors out of the premises. During the inspection, three individuals, all under 18 years of age, were found at the scene. The individuals were immediately rescued and are now under the protection of authorities, who are ensuring their care and safety according to Thai law.

 

 

Police arrested the owners of the two bars, both female Thai nationals aged 50 and 53, whom now face severe human trafficking charges. If convicted, they could face long prison sentences, as there are strict laws against human trafficking, especially involving minors.

 

A police spokesperson for the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division commented on the case, saying, “The protection of vulnerable minors is our utmost priority, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone involved in such heinous crimes. This operation was a key success in our ongoing efforts to dismantle trafficking networks that prey on minors.”

 

The victims have been placed in the care of social services and will receive both medical and psychological support. Authorities are also investigating whether more minors may have been involved and if there are links to a larger trafficking ring.

 

Local officials have promised that they will not tolerate any illegal activity that endangers minors, and have pledged to intensify investigations into other potential trafficking operations in the region.

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

-- 2024-10-19

 

 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The individuals were immediately rescued and are now under the protection of authorities, who are ensuring their care and safety according to Thai law.

Safe and sound now... 

[spidermike007]

Hard to find anyone under 30 these days. 

[rumeaug]

And what about the (pedo) customers requesting these services. Nothing? 

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Hard to find anyone under 30 these days. 

..........and anyone under 60 KG !

[frank83628]

43 minutes ago, rumeaug said:

And what about the (pedo) customers requesting these services. Nothing? 

might be a few AN member laying low for a while

[transam]

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

might be a few AN member laying low for a while

Oh, insider info, eh.......

[frank83628]

Just now, transam said:

Oh, insider info, eh.......

just judging by comments from some here, i think you'll be ok,

[OneMoreFarang]

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

three individuals, all under 18 years of age

Like 17? Or 13? Or what?

And did those individuals volunteer to work in those jobs? Or were they chained and couldn't leave the premises?

 

Obviously, any version of this in not legal. But IMHO it is a huge difference if some 17 yo teenagers, who were anyhow sexually active, wanted to make some money. Or if pre puberty children were forced to work there.

Not same, very different. 

 

 

[Albaby]

25 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Like 17? Or 13? Or what?

And did those individuals volunteer to work in those jobs? Or were they chained and couldn't leave the premises?

 

Obviously, any version of this in not legal. But IMHO it is a huge difference if some 17 yo teenagers, who were anyhow sexually active, wanted to make some money. Or if pre puberty children were forced to work there.

Not same, very different. 

 

 

Details dear boy, details.

 

[300sd]

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Like 17? Or 13? Or what?

And did those individuals volunteer to work in those jobs? Or were they chained and couldn't leave the premises?

 

Obviously, any version of this in not legal. But IMHO it is a huge difference if some 17 yo teenagers, who were anyhow sexually active, wanted to make some money. Or if pre puberty children were forced to work there.

Not same, very different. 

 

 

No, makes no difference legally. The law says you have to be 20 to even be in a bar. A 16 yr old with makeup can look like she's of age. It's all to do with management. Not the customer.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, rumeaug said:

And what about the (pedo) customers requesting these services. Nothing? 

Did they knowingly know the age of the girls... did they go in search of underage girls... you label people without knowing the facts.

[CHdiver]

I am sure this young Girls did just visit there Grandmothers working as Bargirls in the Bar. 

 

We are talking here about Hua Hin. Hardly any Bar has Girls below 30 (or 40). So everything below that age would stick out like a light house. A Bar Owner who would have underaged Girls really has to be stupid.

 

Btw. there is an Official App Barowners can check validity of ID Cards. No excuse to fall for a false ID Card anymore.

[thesetat2013]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Safe and sound now... 

Yeah, it is kind of confusing. Rescued from what? Nothing in the story says they were taken or forced. Seems to me they were there wanting to make money by lying on their backs. I can not imagine granny and grandpa exerting any kind of force keeping them there against their will. 

I do not think those owners were right allowing the young girls to work there. Nor condone foreigners paying for their services. But rescued? From themselves? 

[black tabby12345]

Did the establishment owner forget to pass the Brown Envelop to the local high-ranking cop?

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, CHdiver said:

Btw. there is an Official App Barowners can check validity of ID Cards. No excuse to fall for a false ID Card anymore.

 

Some years ago, it was not unusual for girls to use the ID card from their older sister - a legal ID card, just for a different person.

I have no idea if they still do that. Personally, I rely on the guards in NANA to take care that everybody in there is legal.

[Celsius]

Poor mans Diddy

[BangkokReady]

5 hours ago, 300sd said:

No, makes no difference legally.

 

You often see something like "doing X with a minor under 15" in the news reports here.  Presumably that indicates some sort of differentiation.