Thai police arrest trio for human trafficking to West Africa

Thai police arrested two Thai women and a Chinese man for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking network that lured Thai women into prostitution in Benin, West Africa.

One of the women, 39 year old Piyanutta Poowiangkaew, was detained at a dormitory in Khlong Preng subdistrict, Mueang district, Chachoengsao province. The other woman, 35 year old Wiyada Pahurat, and her husband, 41 year old Chinese national Li Yong, were apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport while clearing immigration, according to Police Major General Saruti Kwaengsopa, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division.

The trio faces charges of human trafficking, involvement in prostitution, membership in a criminal organisation, and deceiving individuals into leaving the country.

The arrests follow a complaint filed by six individuals on October 12 last year, claiming they were victims of the trafficking gang. The complainants reported receiving job offers through TikTok to work at a Thai massage spa in Benin. Upon arrival, they were coerced into prostitution.

Victims alleged they were tortured if they resisted and initially received no payment, as the traffickers claimed their earnings were being used to cover travel expenses, said one of the victims in the complaint.

Following the victims’ accounts, Pol. Maj. Gen. Saruti initiated an investigation that led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the three suspects.

Investigations revealed that Piyanutta was responsible for contacting potential victims through TikTok. Wiyada and Li, who are married, facilitated the overseas travel and forced the women into prostitution upon arrival in Benin. The suspects have denied all charges.

Police confirmed that the suspects had established a systematic operation to deceive and exploit vulnerable individuals. The investigation highlighted using social media platforms like TikTok to lure victims with false job promises, said Pol. Maj. Gen. Saruti.

“We managed to track down and arrest the suspects based on digital footprints and testimonies from the victims.”

Police are now focusing on dismantling the network and providing support for the victims, ensuring their safe return to Thailand.

“These arrests mark a significant step in our fight against human trafficking. We urge the public to be cautious of job offers that seem too good to be true.”

Further investigations are ongoing to identify additional members of the trafficking network and to prevent future exploitation of individuals, reported Bangkok Post.