Two Japanese Arrested In Thailand For Human Trafficking

[webfact]

Two Japanese arrested in Thailand for people smuggling

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Two Japanese men have been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of people smuggling, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

The first man, identified by police only by his surname, Bekku, was arrested Monday when he tried to renew his visa. The second man, Tanaka, was arrested later at his apartment in Bangkok.

The pair, both in their 60s, are accused of involvement in smuggling people from Thailand and its neighbouring countries.

"They were arrested on warrants issued by the Japanese police on charges of human smuggling," said the spokesman, Major General Manoo Mekmok.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-25

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Colabamumbai]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

[gotlost]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

And from?

[Sabre]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

And from?

One would think the most likely answer would be from Thailand to Japan, but from what I have read about the issue it is often more complicated than that.

[Portlandstone]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects?  I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

[zigistar]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

well said i am surprised as well..no deadpenalty's or Bangkok Hilton wishes its rare to see on this forum....

[tuky]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

well said i am surprised as well..no deadpenalty's or Bangkok Hilton wishes its rare to see on this forum....

Perhaps there is just not enough information in the news story.

My ex-wife sister lives in Japan, she was saying there are many Karaoke joints bursting with Thai ladies who have entered Japan under either false passports or false pretences organised by, what sounds like the likes of the two guys in question. Or perhaps they have organised a bunch of labourers. Who the heck knows...

[zigistar]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

well said i am surprised as well..no deadpenalty's or Bangkok Hilton wishes its rare to see on this forum....

Perhaps there is just not enough information in the news story.

My ex-wife sister lives in Japan, she was saying there are many Karaoke joints bursting with Thai ladies who have entered Japan under either false passports or false pretences organised by, what sounds like the likes of the two guys in question. Or perhaps they have organised a bunch of labourers. Who the heck knows...

Ofcourse human trafick is a major crime and must be punished!! I just pointing out that TV seems to have alot of would be judges who are experts in all fields of crimes and notorious of giving deadsentences!!!

[Bagwan]

I note that these guys were arrested on a warrant issued by Japan. Fat chance of the RTP being proactive is there? Can't help wondering if these guys set up independently and therefore pizzed off the Jakuza who promptly went into nudge, nudge, wink, wink mode.

My guess is this is window dressing and doesn't even scratch the surface of the outrageous trade in flesh.

[anotheruser]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

Well done BIB. Hang those bastards with no trial!!

[Spee]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

Mostly Japan and here's one way that it works. Thai and Japanese organized crime scour the countryside for families with young attractive daughters and heavy debt burden. An agreement is made to pay off whatever debt exists and one way airfare and in return, the daughter goes to Japan to work and has to pay back the principal and typically 1x-2x the principle in interest over some period of time, typically 5-10 years. The Japanese who are involved will have Thai wives, who in turn have obtained legitimate Japanese visas for their passports. The passports are shared with the person based upon photo matching (and the assumption that all Thai's look alike to the Japanese authorities), so when the person enters Japan, it appears to be a legitimate entry. Once in the country, the person meets a local contact to return the passport and to pay monthly payments.

So in this kind of example, on the surface, it's not exactly smuggling. It's more an arrangement of mutual convenience, but the risk is entirely upon the person to whom the "loan" was given. The Thai and Japanese organized crime figures involved do not care how the money is made to pay off the debt, only that the debt is paid off. Not making this stuff up. There is a large Thai & Lao community in and around Yokohama. Used to know a lot of people who were wrapped up in it.

For what it's worth, the Japanese authorities have been cracking down heavily on illegal immigrants and the sex trade during the last 3-6 years. Large red light areas in places like Kawasaki and Yokohama, just like window shopping areas in Europe, once occupied with a lot of Thai and Chinese workers, were shut down a long time ago. There have been a lot of raids with Japanese companies who hire illegal immigrants and pay them a smaller under the table cash wage, compared to a Japanese worker. It's been big news in the press there for a lot of years. Knowing the Japanese culture, I have no doubts that there is still a lot of it going on. It's just back in the shadows instead of out in the open.

Edited May 26, 2010 by Spee

[homoiberikus]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects?  I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

Exactly, my thai gf say that Japanese are not 'farang', they are.. well, Japanese or Asiatics

'farang' are just the evilish westerners.

I'm spanish so, I'm tan, short and with dark hair and my gf's family say that I'm not farang bc I have Myammar face with Cambodian accent.. (Cambodians, as Spanish, pronounce R's very stRRong)

[Colabamumbai]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

Mostly Japan and here's one way that it works. Thai and Japanese organized crime scour the countryside for families with young attractive daughters and heavy debt burden. An agreement is made to pay off whatever debt exists and one way airfare and in return, the daughter goes to Japan to work and has to pay back the principal and typically 1x-2x the principle in interest over some period of time, typically 5-10 years. The Japanese who are involved will have Thai wives, who in turn have obtained legitimate Japanese visas for their passports. The passports are shared with the person based upon photo matching (and the assumption that all Thai's look alike to the Japanese authorities), so when the person enters Japan, it appears to be a legitimate entry. Once in the country, the person meets a local contact to return the passport and to pay monthly payments.

So in this kind of example, on the surface, it's not exactly smuggling. It's more an arrangement of mutual convenience, but the risk is entirely upon the person to whom the "loan" was given. The Thai and Japanese organized crime figures involved do not care how the money is made to pay off the debt, only that the debt is paid off. Not making this stuff up. There is a large Thai & Lao community in and around Yokohama. Used to know a lot of people who were wrapped up in it.

For what it's worth, the Japanese authorities have been cracking down heavily on illegal immigrants and the sex trade during the last 3-6 years. Large red light areas in places like Kawasaki and Yokohama, just like window shopping areas in Europe, once occupied with a lot of Thai and Chinese workers, were shut down a long time ago. There have been a lot of raids with Japanese companies who hire illegal immigrants and pay them a smaller under the table cash wage, compared to a Japanese worker. It's been big news in the press there for a lot of years. Knowing the Japanese culture, I have no doubts that there is still a lot of it going on. It's just back in the shadows instead of out in the open.

Thank you for your intelligent well written informative reply.

[Portlandstone]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

Well done BIB. Hang those bastards with no trial!!

That's what I was talking about.  Over on the 'farang' threads it's 9 pages of "hope he rots in a Thai jail" type responses, with seemingly no moderation.  All they did was made speeches on stage or on youtube.  These guys here are trafficking and destroying young lives based on family debt, but thaivisa members couldn't care less about that.

[up-country_sinclair]

If found guilty of human trafficking, these guys deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail. If for no other reason than to send a message to other traffickers.

[Valentine]

If found guilty of human trafficking, these guys deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail. If for no other reason than to send a message to other traffickers.

I agree. To pass it off as an arrangement agreed upon by all sides cannot condone the fact all these young girls will have to endure many years in the sex trade. It is a truly desperate parent or one with no conscience who allow their daughter to suffer this fate. One approach to help prevent this would be for communities to pull together & educate families about this scourge. There will also need to be better opportunities for the poor, not just handouts, but sustainable programmes so they can become self supporting where they can see an improvement in their lives.

Even in the darkest, deepest recesses of my mind can I imagine my daughters being in the sex trade but then again the Thai/Asian mindset is not the same as mine.

[BigWheelMan]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

Mostly Japan and here's one way that it works. Thai and Japanese organized crime scour the countryside for families with young attractive daughters and heavy debt burden. An agreement is made to pay off whatever debt exists and one way airfare and in return, the daughter goes to Japan to work and has to pay back the principal and typically 1x-2x the principle in interest over some period of time, typically 5-10 years. The Japanese who are involved will have Thai wives, who in turn have obtained legitimate Japanese visas for their passports. The passports are shared with the person based upon photo matching (and the assumption that all Thai's look alike to the Japanese authorities), so when the person enters Japan, it appears to be a legitimate entry. Once in the country, the person meets a local contact to return the passport and to pay monthly payments.

So in this kind of example, on the surface, it's not exactly smuggling. It's more an arrangement of mutual convenience, but the risk is entirely upon the person to whom the "loan" was given. The Thai and Japanese organized crime figures involved do not care how the money is made to pay off the debt, only that the debt is paid off. Not making this stuff up. There is a large Thai & Lao community in and around Yokohama. Used to know a lot of people who were wrapped up in it.

For what it's worth, the Japanese authorities have been cracking down heavily on illegal immigrants and the sex trade during the last 3-6 years. Large red light areas in places like Kawasaki and Yokohama, just like window shopping areas in Europe, once occupied with a lot of Thai and Chinese workers, were shut down a long time ago. There have been a lot of raids with Japanese companies who hire illegal immigrants and pay them a smaller under the table cash wage, compared to a Japanese worker. It's been big news in the press there for a lot of years. Knowing the Japanese culture, I have no doubts that there is still a lot of it going on. It's just back in the shadows instead of out in the open.

It`s the same scenario within the UK sex industry.

The traffickers dealing with Thai girls, whatever nationality, normally have Thai wives that they use to front their business.

Most of these Thai girls, not all but the majority, know exactly what they’re getting involved in and that they are going to work as prostitutes. Many fall foul of the pimps, as they have no idea of the working terms and conditions until they arrive at the destination.

The girls believe they are going to make big bucks, much more than they could in Thailand, but end up disappointed and trapped in an environment that is extremely difficult to escape from.

My sympathy for these girls is zero, as it is for the pimps and traffickers.

[junglist]

harakiri for these pigs....

[meithai]

harakiri for these pigs....

NO, that is an honourable death in (ancient) Japanese culture.

[Lumumba]

How do I rat out some goons operating out of Tasmania?

PM me if you care to help.

[old wanderer]

Mostly Japan and here's one way that it works. Thai and Japanese organized crime scour the countryside for families with young attractive daughters and heavy debt burden. An agreement is made to pay off whatever debt exists and one way airfare and in return, the daughter goes to Japan to work and has to pay back the principal and typically 1x-2x the principle in interest over some period of time, typically 5-10 years.

While a lot of people here on TV have little or no empathy for these girls, I was accidentally involved in a similar case about 18 years ago. I was riding my motorcycle in the back country when I rode up on a young teen age girl running down the road, and a 50 something Thai man chasing her with a long piece of bamboo and hitting her.

Jumped off my bike, kicked his butt, and loaded the girl on my bike. (She was crying and really scared). Took her home to my Thai GF. Found out her parents had sold her to work as a "house maid" for a year. 1st morning there the guy tried to rape her. (I think she was 16 or 17). I wanted to just take her home, but she claimed her parents would beat her, as make her go back as they did not want to return the money.

She ended up working for us for almost a year. Used to be very common in Thailand, but now less and less. I guarantee this girl did not have a clew what her parents were setting her up for.

[TheMac]

I note that these guys were arrested on a warrant issued by Japan. Fat chance of the RTP being proactive is there? Can't help wondering if these guys set up independently and therefore pizzed off the Jakuza who promptly went into nudge, nudge, wink, wink mode.

My guess is this is window dressing and doesn't even scratch the surface of the outrageous trade in flesh.

2 foreigners alone can't organize such trade, they need associates at every stage ... so what about the others? Remember that recent news about that lady who managed to flee herself, spend time in JP jail, & then started legal actions against the Thai lady who send her there.

[TheMac]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects?  I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

Exactly, my thai gf say that Japanese are not 'farang', they are.. well, Japanese or Asiatics

'farang' are just the evilish westerners.

I'm spanish so, I'm tan, short and with dark hair and my gf's family say that I'm not farang bc I have Myammar face with Cambodian accent.. (Cambodians, as Spanish, pronounce R's very stRRong)

I'm JP and got a funny event: at a Thai restaurant, I ordered in English but then I saw the (other) waiter who was bringing my order looking lost. The one who place the order told him to bring to the table with the 'farang'. So for 1 I was a farang but not for the other!

[TheMac]

What, up on thaivisa for over 4 hours and no mass lynching of the foreign criminal suspects? I guess the two Japanese are not 'farang' enough.

Well done BIB. Hang those bastards with no trial!!

That's what I was talking about.  Over on the 'farang' threads it's 9 pages of "hope he rots in a Thai jail" type responses, with seemingly no moderation.  All they did was made speeches on stage or on youtube.  These guys here are trafficking and destroying young lives based on family debt, but thaivisa members couldn't care less about that.

Let's the legal system handle it: if found guilty, they must pay for their crime and I would definitely agree, in this case, they get harsher sentences just as an example for others. Mass lynching even virtual for either this case or the farangs during the BKK events is not acceptable.

[sillyman99]

Before anybody starts screaming for the death sentence and years in The Bangkok Hilton, etc etc etc.

They will be escorted back to Japan, and arrested upon arrival.

[chuck6660]

“I was desperate. When they offered work, I had no choice but to accept. Soon after my arrival in Japan, I realized that I had been sold. My life after that was like that of an animal.”

“I was sold three more times and forced to have sex everyday. My owner threatened that wherever I escaped to, I would be traced and killed and so would my parents in Thailand.”

“Set me free: Women immigrants often forced into prostitution,”

New Internationalist, Siriporn Skrobanek, September 1998

The United Nations defines trafficking as:

Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons. . .By means of the threat, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse or exploitation

[Thongkorn]

If found guilty of human trafficking, these guys deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail. If for no other reason than to send a message to other traffickers.

what's the difference, Abused in Thailand or abused in Japan, I do not agree with any of it.

[katana]

Apparently they were trafficking both Thai and foreign women to Japan, the US and other countries and had set up a couple of Japanese restaurants in Suk 24 and 55 as a front to the smuggling.

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentID=68232

[Jimi007]

Apparently they were trafficking both Thai and foreign women to Japan, the US and other countries and had set up a couple of Japanese restaurants in Suk 24 and 55 as a front to the smuggling.

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentID=68232

You forgot to mention Canada as well...

[Tokay]

It would be interesting to know what countries they were smuggling the people to, Japan?

Japan is the #1 country in the world for in-bound trafficked women. You would not believe the amount of girls they traffic into Japan from all corners of the earth.