Thai, Australia Police Bust Human Trafficking Ring

[webfact]

Thai, Australia police bust human trafficking ring

BANGKOK (AP) - Police in Thailand and Australia have arrested six people in a multi-nation operation against human trafficking networks.

Thai police arrested an Iraqi man and a Thai woman on Tuesday, while Australian police announced the arrest of four men in Sydney and Melbourne in the same operation. [more...]

Full story: http://www.straitsti...ory_782241.html

-- straitstimes.com 2012-03-28

[webfact]

Thai, Australian police arrest 6 people in operation against human trafficking networks

By Associated Press

BANGKOK — Police in Thailand and Australia arrested six people Tuesday as part of a yearlong, multination operation against human trafficking networks.

Thai police said they arrested an Iraqi man and a Thai woman in Bangkok, while Australian police arrested four men in Sydney and Melbourne.

Thai police Lt. Gen. Wiboon Bangthamai said the arrests were part of “Operation Arapaima,” a yearlong effort to crack down on human trafficking networks in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, the smuggling destination. [more...]

Full story: http://www.washingto...2qdS_story.html

-- The Washington Post 2012-03-28

[chrisinth]

Before anyone jumps in here, this does not appear to be about sex traffiking but about getting asylum seekers into Australia. Still, nice to see multinational cooperation working for a change, or rather getting results at the end of the day.

[David48]

The Australian ABC network report it as this ...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-28/people-smugglers-arrested/3916664

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-28/home-affairs-minister-on-people-smuggling-arrests/3917178

As chrisinth mentions above, nothing to do with sex trafficking.

More about the production of false Australian Passports being sold to Asylum seekers.

[webfact]

Six held in Thailand and Australia on human trafficking

Police in Thailand and Australia have arrested six people believed to be part of a human trafficking network, following a year-long investigation.

An Iraqi man and a Thai woman, reportedly his wife, were detained in Thailand on passport forgery charges.

In Australia, four people were arrested for allegedly smuggling people to the country through South East Asia. [more...]

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-asia-17532628

-- BBC 2012-03-28

[Thai at Heart]

Six held in Thailand and Australia on human trafficking

Police in Thailand and Australia have arrested six people believed to be part of a human trafficking network, following a year-long investigation.

An Iraqi man and a Thai woman, reportedly his wife, were detained in Thailand on passport forgery charges.

In Australia, four people were arrested for allegedly smuggling people to the country through South East Asia. [more...]

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-asia-17532628

-- BBC 2012-03-28

Fail to see how buying a fake passport represents "taking advantage" of people. If it gets you in, it is a pretty successful deal I would think, considering that the only other option is that you can't go at all.

[theanimaster]

Doesn't seem like they 'busted' the entire ring as the title seems to indicate.

[Gone]

Is it April fools already or is this article and link just a Nation joke?

[Rimmer]

Off topic post removed

[chooka]

Before anyone jumps in here, this does not appear to be about sex traffiking but about getting asylum seekers into Australia. Still, nice to see multinational cooperation working for a change, or rather getting results at the end of the day.

Your right it has nothing to do with human or even sex trafficking. It has been an Australian Federal Police Investigation into false documents being used by asylum seekers to get into Australia. The AFP have been investigating this for well in excess of 12 months after concerns raised by ASIO and immigration officials during the processing in Australia. The Thai authorities should not be patting themselves on the back for this investigation, as they were merely assisting AFP agents based in Bangkok.

[chooka]

Is it April fools already or is this article and link just a Nation joke?

No this investigation is not a joke.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

It would be great if international NGOs, law enforcement and media could be more accurate with their terminology.

Facilitating illegal migration for those who want to travel and aren't being deceived has nothing to do with "trafficking".

Trafficking is a serious problem, and the sex portion of it is just the tip of the iceberg, and mixing everything up under one umbrella doesn't serve the cause at all, just the PR of the agencies and their fund-raising efforts.

I'd like to see some effort put into helping the Burmese, Laos and Cambodians working in slave conditions in many mainstream industries in Thailand.

But of course that would just help the victims, poor people with no representation. It would embarass TPTB in Thailand, wouldn't sell newspapers, so no big fundraising campaigns for NGOs, wouldn't get glory for politicians back home. Therefore won't happen.

I sure do feel sorry for those on the side of liberal democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan once the US finally has to really close up shop and all hell breaks loose (again), I don't blame them wanting to get out while the getting's good.

[softgeorge]

Before anyone jumps in here, this does not appear to be about sex traffiking but about getting asylum seekers into Australia. Still, nice to see multinational cooperation working for a change, or rather getting results at the end of the day.

Your right it has nothing to do with human or even sex trafficking. It has been an Australian Federal Police Investigation into false documents being used by asylum seekers to get into Australia. The AFP have been investigating this for well in excess of 12 months after concerns raised by ASIO and immigration officials during the processing in Australia. The Thai authorities should not be patting themselves on the back for this investigation, as they were merely assisting AFP agents based in Bangkok.

It is part of a people smuggling ring and not a human trafficking ring, two entirely different breeds of dog. The headline is totally wrong and misleading. Those convicted of people smuggling face up to 2 yrs imprisonment in Aust (2 days with good behaviour) and human traffickers face 20 yrs.

Oh and agree this was not a Thai investigation for which the Thais can take credit, they can take a little credit for assisting the AFP but they were not a Thai catch. I guess they will parade the results of the Australian investigation before the media and the 50 odd BIB will all be smiling in the background.

[noitom]

Sex trafficking sells more papers than asylum seeking. Hats off to The Nation in its ceaseless effort to misrepresent reality.

[SteveCNX]

Anyone who engages in human trafficking has failed to develop into a real human being and therefore doesn't deserve humane treatment. This is the lowest form of sloth, greed, and self-centeredness all rolled into one contemptible beast. Draw and quarter the lot of 'em, I say!

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Anyone who engages in human trafficking has failed to develop into a real human being and therefore doesn't deserve humane treatment. This is the lowest form of sloth, greed, and self-centeredness all rolled into one contemptible beast. Draw and quarter the lot of 'em, I say!

All fine and good, but this case has nothing to do with human trafficking. Smuggling people who **want** to emigrate is a crime (IMO mostly a financial one) against the target destination country, but actually providing a needed service for those so desparate to escape the hellish conditions of their home country.

The greater criminals IMO are those who created those conditions, but that's a tough one. The US is going to have to wear its share of the guilt when its pie-in-the-sky scheme to bring liberal democracy to the mideast by force finishes falling apart. Does anyone doubt that Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos would have been much better off if we Yanks had just kept our noses out and let things play out without interfering?