DSI raided 3 medical facilities under search warrant and arrested a gang providing Thai women for illegal surrogacy before the children were sent abroad.

DSI raided 3 medical facilities under search warrant and arrested a gang providing Thai women for illegal surrogacy before the children were sent abroad.

          On September 1, 2023, Pol.Maj. Suriya Singhakamol (DSI Director-General) assigned Mr. Assadawuth Sripita (DSI Assistant Spokesperson) and Pol.Capt. Tinawut Silapat (Director of Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime) to hold a press conference updating the progress of the special case no. 236/2565 (case of a gang providing Thai women for illegal surrogacy to foreigners in the manner of transnational criminal organization in Nong Khai Province: Master Tantai (Alias)) with the following details.

       On August 23, 2556, at 6:30 a.m., Pol.Capt. Piya Raksakul (DSI Deputy Director-General) assigned Pol.Capt. Thinavudth Silapat (Director of Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime), Ms. Arunsri Wichawut (Director of Bureau of Special Case Management), and Ms. Kanoklada Charoensiri (Acting Special Case Expert) to lead the joint operation team conducting searches at 3 locations under the Criminal Court’s search warrants no. 995-997/2566, dated August 22, 2023.

       The search of the first location uncovered medical records of the illegal surrogate mothers. The search of the second location revealed documents containing information of eggs and embryos under the care of the doctor in this case. The search of the third locations found passports of surrogate mothers and children, while the facility was not licensed or certified for assisted reproductive technology service.

       Later, on August 28, 2023, at 6:00 a.m., Pol.Capt. Piya Raksakul (DSI Deputy Director-General) assigned Pol.Capt. Thinavudth Silapat (Director of Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime) to lead a joint operation between the DSI and Nong Khai Provincial Police to arrest Mr. Sunet Jomsri, the accused under the Criminal Court’s arrest warrant no. 2643/2566 for the charges of participating in transnational criminal organization and procuring surrogacy service for commercial purposes. The searched of his house discovered a list of illegal surrogate mothers for hire and accounts showing money earned from being an agent providing Thai women for illegal surrogacy. Being part of a transnational surrogacy for hire gang had earned him enough to own the land of over 100 rais.

       Surrogacy is allowed upon approval under relevant law for people having difficulty conceiving in accordance with the Protection for Children Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act, B.E. 2558 (2015). Meanwhile, commercial surrogacy is prohibited. Those acting as customers, agents, doctors, scientists, surrogate mothers, and any persons involved in illegal surrogacy are subject to punishment by criminal law.