Police arrest suspected human traffickers targeting rural Thais

[webfact]

Police Arrest Suspected Human Traffickers Targeting Rural Thais
By Khaosod English


Marine police in Satul province inspected fishing boats manned by Burmese workers to look for potential human traffickers and drug use, 19 June 2014.

BANGKOK — Police have arrested two suspected human traffickers who allegedly coerced more than 100 Thais into working under slavish conditions on fishing boats in Indonesian waters.

The director of Thailand’s Division of Special Investigation (DSI), Suwana Suwanchutha, announced at a press conference today that two suspected traffickers have been arrested, with a third on the run.

Eight victims filed formal complaints to police, leading to the arrests, she said.

Pol.Col. Paisit Sangkahapong, the director of the DSI's department on suppressing human trafficking, said the suspects targeted Thais who originally hail from rural provinces, approaching them in Bangkok's major transportation hubs, such as Mo Chit Bus Terminal and Hua Lamphong Central Rail Station, with fake job offers.

"They befriend the victims and lie about well-paying jobs at factories and other places," Pol.Col. Paisit explained. "In some cases, the perpetrators admit that the jobs are on fishing boats, but they lie that the jobs will be only short term, and that the pay is good."

In reality, the victims are locked up in buildings in coastal provinces and later forced to work on fishing boats, he said.

"They have to work for many years. They cannot go home. They receive very little pay. They are intimidated, sometimes beaten," said Pol.Col. Paisit, noting that some of the victims are younger than 18.

Pol.Col. Paisit also told reporters that the traffickers sometimes traveled directly to rural communities in Thailand, especially in the northeast, to dupe villagers into working on the boats.

The two suspects have been charged with human trafficking and illegal detention, he said.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421751072&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-21

[Bluespunk]

Funny how Burmese are mentioned in the picture at the start of the story.

Almost planting the idea that Burmese are behind this slaving. I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but all the same.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Bluespunk

[webfact]

DSI nabs two human-trafficking suspects
Piyanut Tamnukasetchai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday that two human-trafficking suspects were arrested for luring Thai men into exploitative work on fishing trawlers in Indonesian waters.

At the press conference, DSI also cited reports late last year that many Thai fishermen had escaped from the trawlers to hide on the Indonesian island of Ambon, where they were stuck and could not return home because their identity cards and seamen's books were kept by their employers.

The DSI is also investigating four related cases with eight damaged persons, and have gathered evidence and arrest warrants for three suspects who allegedly illegally detained the workers, DSI chief Suwana Suwannajutha said. She added that DSI had arrested two of suspects - middleman Montri Makkhapol, 53, and fishing boat captain Pamon Chanto, 52 - in Samut Sakhon province on Monday.

The third suspect, whose name has been withheld, is believed to be laying low in another country, she said, adding that arrest warrants would be issued for more accomplices soon.

Pol Lt-Colonel Paisit Sangkhapong, director of the DSI anti-human trafficking centre, said investigators learned that these suspects usually befriend their victims - especially those looking to work in big cities - at different public venues, such as train stations or bus terminals, and lured them with promises of well-paid jobs.

Some even told the victims that they would be working on fishing boats, but claimed that this work was for a short while and paid well, he added.

Once the victims fell for the promises and followed them, they would be detained at houses in coastal provinces before being sent to fishing trawlers, he said, adding that victims were given forged documents and then suffered forced labour or assault for very little money.

The victims include adults and youth under 18, with the youngest being only 13, he said. Saying that the two suspects arrested had many prior offences and yet they continued with the offences, he said, adding that he would have the Anti-Money Laundering Office seize their assets later.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/DSI-nabs-two-human-trafficking-suspects-30252318.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-21

[Bluespunk]

"Saying that the two suspects arrested had many prior offences and yet they continued with the offences, he said, adding that he would have the Anti-Money Laundering Office seize their assets later."

Were assets seized after their prior convictions?

Edited January 20, 2015 by Bluespunk

[maapaa]

Sad story, for sure.

But it shows how much effort Thai officials put in PROTECTING Thais from foreign offenders. I have very seldom read it the other way around ... protecting foreigners from Thai offenders.

Probably because Thais are following the rules of Thainess and behave always very well. ;-)

[noitom]

What a Thai charade.

[chainarong]

Human traffickers are making a name for themselves in all sorts of ways from fishing boat thugs to immigration through the back door to Australia and the problems associated in the northern hemisphere, there's no quick fix , just surveillance, arrest , boats sunk , making it hard as possible for these parasites to operate.

[SiSePuede419]

This story can't be true.

King Rama V ended slavery in Thailand back in 1905.

[RigPig]

Pot...Kettle.....

[Loles]

a very big catch, congratulation if you throw away your blind folder may arrest more 2 000 involved buddies a single day.

Ohhhh you don't want.

aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAA

[nithisa78]

Funny how Burmese are mentioned in the picture at the start of the story.

Almost planting the idea that Burmese are behind this slaving. I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but all the same.

once you opened your mouth, that was intentional and got the job done where another might have failed, save for the twisted mind. . .you did not.

[nithisa78]

Human traffickers are making a name for themselves in all sorts of ways from fishing boat thugs to immigration through the back door to Australia and the problems associated in the northern hemisphere, there's no quick fix , just surveillance, arrest , boats sunk , making it hard as possible for these parasites to operate.

You and the media are making a name for them.

Start to execute them at sea, that will quiet it down.