Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the Thai Police have busted a trafficking ring here in Thailand. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Thai Examiner, that is thaiexaminer.com, the article is titled: Underage brothel busted by Police in Pathum Thani. Three operators arrested and underage girls rescued. First of all, fantastic; hats off to the Thai Police. I did another video contemporaneously with this one where it was noted that the Thai Army got involved in an illegally operating "School" in one of the islands. I've been bringing this up for a while now that look, Thai Law Enforcement is not messing around when it comes to the issue of foreign nationals engaging in all sorts of illegal and sordid behaviour, to say nothing of children. I can't stress that enough. Here in Thailand, children are sacrosanct, they're sacred for lack of a better term, and Law Enforcement is not messing around in any way, shape or form. If you're looking to come to Thailand and engage in nefarious behaviour with children, you might want to find someplace else, or not do that at all, or maybe walk off a bridge and hopefully cease to exist. 

But that being said, let's get into this. Quoting directly: "Three arrested in Pathum Thani after Police exposed a "cat grooming shop" as an alleged child trafficking front. Officers rescued minors and uncovered a seven-year operation employing 22 workers, including underage girls, with over 20 million baht in transactions. A police raid in Pathum Thani exposed an alleged seven-year trafficking network hidden behind a cat grooming shop, leading to three arrests and the rescue of underage victims. Acting under Criminal Court warrants, Officers led by Witthaya Sriprasertphap uncovered what the investigators say it was a structured operation employing minors and generating more than 20 million baht. Testimony from a 16-year-old victim and seized evidence outline the scale and control of the operation now under prosecution. The operation was directed by Witthaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Anti-trafficking in Persons Division." Hats off to you, hats off to your whole crew. Thank you very, very much. Quoting further: "Meanwhile, Officers from Division 5 carried out the arrests. They worked alongside the International Protection Alliance and Our Rescue Foundation Thailand." Hats off to those folks as well. Quoting further: "Arrest warrants were issued by the Criminal Court. Consequently, Wakyaphat, Thawatchai, and Yuwadee were detained. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit human trafficking."

Again, the thing going to take away from this video is Thai Police are not messing around with this stuff. There has been a recent report that now the Thai Government is pretty gung-ho about moving up to Tier One on the Anti-human Trafficking List which is maintained by the United States; I think that's a very laudable goal. I'm hopeful that we see that. 

But again, the thing to take away from this video is look not only is Law Enforcement oftentimes concerned with issues pertaining to standard Foreigners Behaving Badly kind of things, as we have discussed in other videos, they are also very concerned, I hesitate to say deadly concerned, I don't want to engage in hyperbole, but I can't overstate the gravity of this. Law Enforcement here is not messing around when it comes to this issue. And those who think that Thailand is some kind of open season type of place for that kind of activity, you're thinking wrong, because at the end of the day, the minute this stuff gets found out - I don't expect these folks will probably be leaving the jail. I can't say for certain what the Thai Courts will do, but based on the gravity of everything and the facts in the case, probably these folks aren't going to see any bail. They're just going to be waiting around, detained for their ultimate trial, and then presumably once that comes about, we'll see them basically, again if the allegations are true and again everybody is accorded due process and is innocent until proven guilty, but if it's found that this is the case, I expect these folks will be facing stiff sentences in Thai prison for the foreseeable future.