DSI rescued child victim of illegal surrogacy, obtained court's arrest warrants against alleged offenders

On 5 May 2023, DSI Director General Police Major Suriya Singhakamol and Deputy Director General Police Captain Piya Raksakul assigned Acting Director of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime Mr Somroek Tangkharawakhun and Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime Ms Arunsri Wichawut (Head of the Investigation team for Special Case No. 236/2565) to rescue a child believed to have been born through illegal surrogacy. This was a joint operation with Samut Prakarn and Bangkok Shelters for Children and Families, Samut Prakarn Police, and Bang Phlat Police, aimed at providing the child victim with assistance and welfare protection. 

This successful joint rescue operation resulted from DSI's endeavor to expand the scope of its investigation into Special Case No. 236/2565, which involves a criminal network procuring a Thai woman in Nong Khai Province for illegal surrogacy for a foreign client, with characteristics of transnational organized crime. The surrogate child (known under the pseudonym Tanthai) was being kept by a group of individuals at locations in Samut Prakarn Province and Bangkok.

The Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against two individuals involved in this case, and the DSI investigation team is expanding its investigation to further take legal proceedings against foreigners connected with the transnational organized crime syndicate, which procures Thai women for illegal surrogacy.