DSI Arrests a Suspect in Human Trafficking Case Involving Deception of Male Myanmar Workers to Work in Online Sales for Chinese Company in Cambodia

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, Operation Unit 1 of the Surveillance and Intelligence Center, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), under the direction of Mr. Withawat Sukantharos, Head of the Surveillance and Intelligence Center, arrested Mr. Lao Ching (surname withheld) pursuant to the warrant issued by the Criminal Court No. 4341/2567 dated September 5, 2024. He faces charges of conspiring with two or more people to commit human trafficking by illegally exploiting forced labor or service and slavery, as well as conspiracy involving three or more people, or by members of a transnational organized crime group, to commit human trafficking offenses for the purpose of exploiting forced labor or services, slavery, and slavery-like practices or any other forcible extortion, regardless of whether the person consents or not. He is also charged with conspiring with five or more people, to coerce others to do or not do something by threatening harm to life, body, reputation, freedom, or property of such person, or by using deception, threats, use of force, abuse of power, immorality, or any other coercive means to take or send people out of the Kingdom.

The suspect was arrested at a tea shop in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok. He was informed of the charges against him, his rights under the Criminal Procedure Code, and that video and audio recordings would be continuously made during his arrest and detention until he was handed over to the special case inquiry official, in accordance with the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, B.E. 2565 (2022). After informing the suspect, the officers took him into custody and handed him over to the responsible special case inquiry officials for further legal proceedings.

This is a Special Case No. 313/2565 of the Bureau of Human Trafficking, concerning Mr. Lao Ching (surname withheld). He is accused of acting as a broker, bringing a group of 9 male Myanmar workers from Thailand to employers in Cambodia. The workers were to be employed as online sales staff at a Chinese company located in Koh Thom District, Kandal Province, Cambodia.

The operation to apprehend the suspect under the arrest warrant in special cases is in accordance with the order of Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the DSI. He assigned the Surveillance and Intelligence Center, a unit under his direct command, to form the operation team to track and arrest suspects under arrest warrants, especially those warrants that are nearing their statute of limitations, in order to bring fugitive suspects into the justice process.