DSI joined forces with its alliances to search and arrest child sex abusers nationwide

DSI joined forces with its alliances to search and arrest child sex abusers nationwide

The DSI has prioritized the prevention and suppression of crime against children and youths in aspects of sexually abusing children and publicizing child pornography on the internet in order to safeguard children who are manpower of the nation in the future. The DSI has obtained advanced investigation technologies from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), the US's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the National Police of the Netherlands (KLPD), for enhancing its officials' capacity for cyber investigations to seek and identify the source of child pornography on the internet under the project called “Taking Actions: Combating Sexually Abusing Children in Tourism”.

By jointly investigating and analyzing information with intelligence units of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), and the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), the key sources of child pornography dissemination on the internet were evidently found in many places. From scrutinizing and collecting evidence, the officials could identify 16 suspect locations and suspects both Thais and foreigners nationwide allegedly committed the offence of possessing and disseminating child pornography under the Penal Code and the offence under the Computer-Related Crime Act, B.E. 2550 (2007), and some suspects might committed the offence under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, B.E. 2551 (2008). Therefore, the DSI, the RTP, the DOPA and the Central institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) brainstormed to plan the search and requested search warrants from the Criminal Court. On 20 November 2018, armed with the search warrants, officials of the aforementioned agencies searched 16 locations observed by representatives of foreign law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the HSI, and the KLPD. From the search, evidence of crime commission was found at 9 locations in 12 provinces. The officials seized 18 electronic pieces of material evidence and over 1,000 files of child pornography. The 6 arrested suspects were charged with child pornography possession.

The DSI and the DIFS will examine the seized electronic pieces for use as evidence for prosecution and widen investigations by further supplying information to the inquiry officials of the RTP. The DSI will also coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) for employing the measures under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, B.E. 2542 (1999) to prosecute the offenders.

The DSI wish to inform the public through the media that possessing child pornography regardless of transmission is an offence punishable with imprisonment. It is essential to warn the public not to commit or take part in the offence