Khon Kaen Raids Shut Down Paedophile Chat Group

File photo of a police dispatch room for reference only

In a significant crackdown by the Cyber Crime Investigation Division 3 (CCID3), a 31-year-old man named Warit was apprehended in Khon Kaen for running a paedophile chat group.

Yesterday, police raided a house in Ban Hat district, leading to the arrest of Warit, who was involved in a disturbing operation uploading videos of sexual assaults on underaged boys to a pay-to-view online chat group.

This arrest is part of a broader operation spanning several provinces, including Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Roi Et, and Nakhon Ratchasima, targeting illegal online activities such as lottery scams and human trafficking rings under the jurisdiction of CCID3.

Pol Lt Gen Chatpanthakan Klaiklueng, commander of CCID3, revealed that the arrest stemmed from a tip-off about a chatroom on the Line application. This group allegedly charged a 200-baht entry fee, allowing members to access pornographic images of underaged boys being abused. Warit confessed to luring boys—some as young as 13—to his residence, assaulting them, and posting recordings of the acts in the chatroom.

Warit now faces several charges, including sexual assault, human trafficking, procuring boys for sexual purposes, and producing and distributing child pornography.

In tandem with the paedophile ring crackdown, CCID3 arrested four individuals linked to illegal online lottery sales in Nakhon Ratchasima, Yasothon, Roi Et, and Maha Sarakham. Police seized mobile phones, ATM cards, computers, and promotional materials related to the illicit lottery operations.

Additionally, in Khon Kaen, law enforcement detained two individuals suspected of selling unauthorised online lottery tickets in Phon and Muang districts. Authorities have frozen bank accounts associated with these suspects, collectively containing nearly 300,000 baht (£6,480).

Moreover, police arrested a man named Weerachon, 25, at a luxury condominium in downtown Khon Kaen. He was charged with the illegal possession of a 9mm handgun and nine rounds of ammunition. Weerachon had reportedly posted photos on social media with the weapon, displaying it at entertainment venues.

These arrests underscore the seriousness of the Thai authorities’ commitment to quashing illicit online activities and protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and harm, reported Bangkok Post.

-- 2025-02-13