Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests we are discussing a recent “sting operation” conducted against a Muay Thai camp here in Thailand. A warning to viewers, this video goes, due to the article I am going to cite, it ends up going to a place I wouldn't have thought when I first read the headlines or I first was sort of hearing about oh, a Muay Thai camp got raided, so sort of some caution if you don't want to hear maybe some more "blue" information, then maybe don't go any further into this. 

That being said, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from Khaosod English, that's khaosodenglish.com. Again, the title says most of it but like when I first heard, somebody told me a Muay Thai camp had gotten busted up or something - I wondered what that was all about - my initial reaction was maybe they were using it as a Visa mill or something like this, but then this headline: Thai Police bust alleged child exploitation ring linked to Rayong Boxing Camp. So again, in a broader context of immigration here, I think it's important to point out, one aspect of the so-called DTV, Destination Thailand Visa, is things like Muay Thai boxing. I am not saying this will have a direct implication on that or on that Visa but just fair warning, and to those folks out there that use this channel as a sort of barometer of where things are going with Immigration, I would say not to rule it out although I don't necessarily think it's a foregone conclusion, not to rule out that heightened scrutiny associated with these Muay Thai camps might be coming down the pike, especially in the context of the DTV, in the aftermath of this report. So again, remains to be seen, but just kind of keep that in the back of your mind. 

That said, quoting directly: "Thailand's Anti-Trafficking in Person's Division (ATPD) has arrested the manager of a Muay Thai Camp in Rayong Province on allegations of child trafficking and sexual exploitation, while Authorities are expanding their investigation to locate a Norwegian benefactor accused of abusing children at the camp. According to police, Authorities launched a sting operation, posing undercover officers as prospective students at the camp to gather evidence. They found around 30 male and female boxers ranging in age from under 18 to 35, including both Thai and foreign nationals. Police alleged the suspect told an undercover officer that he could arrange minors for sexual services claiming some of the children came from troubled family backgrounds and were seeking money. He allegedly shared photographs of the minors and discussed prices before Officers arranged a controlled operation." And I urge those who are watching this video, go check out Khasod English; they do a good job covering this. This is an absolute travesty. I mean these poor children, it's awful; there's no real other description of it.

That said, I'm sure Thai Law Enforcement will be scrutinizing this heavily. I have no doubt that if this person in fact is involved in nefarious undertakings of this nature that this person will be adjudicated and if they are found guilty, they are going to spend a fairly long amount of time in the Thai prison system if they come out at all, in the time that they may have to do there. Again, how that plays out remains to be seen. We will keep you updated on the channel as the situation evolves. But again, I think it's important to point out, have at the back of one's mind, not bringing this up other than for the fact that look there are a lot of people that are detrimentally relying on certain aspects of Muay Thai, cooking etc. for their visas. I cannot imagine that this won't have any impact whatsoever on that. Now I'm not saying it could be a major upshot, but again, if you had a DTV Visa based on attendance at this Camp, even if you weren't otherwise doing anything nefarious, you're a foreigner and you were attending it; you were getting your Visa through that, this could definitely have an impact on that Visa. Whether it has a more broad impact on folks that are doing Muay Thai in the country and using the Destination Thailand Visa remains to be seen. If it does, we will certainly keep folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.