Underage sex trafficking blitz looms
A massive crackdown on underage sex trafficking will be launched nationwide in response to recent revelations concerning the flesh trade.
Defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich yesterday said police will work with the military and local authorities to crack down on child sex trafficking rings across the country.
The suppression drive, ordered by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, will be launched in accordance with a recent order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Maj Gen Kongcheep said Gen Prawit instructed authorities to intensify their efforts to hunt down perpetrators behind illegal syndicates, stressing that legal action must be brought against them.
The authorities will join hands with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) in providing necessary assistance to sex-trafficking victims.
Aside from sex trafficking, Gen Prawit also ordered authorities to probe other offences including human, weapon and drug trafficking, prostitution, migrant smuggling, loan shark businesses, illegal overseas job placement, and human rights violations, he said.
Maj Gen Kongcheep said almost 20,000 guns have been impounded with more than 10 million methamphetamine pills seized nationwide since October last year.
Raids have been conducted by joint forces of police, military and l ocal authorities as well as officers from the Office of Narcotics Control Board.
The probe has been expanded to money laundering rings which led to the arrest of many influential figures masterminding transnational crime networks.
Meanwhile, a disciplinary panel will be set up to determine whether three officials attached to the Ban Mai tambon administration organisation (TAO) in Nonthaburi will be dismissed from their posts after they were accused of being involved in the flesh trade of underage girls in the northern province of Mae Hong Son.
Nonthaburi governor Nisit Chansomwong yesterday said he ordered Bang Yai district chief Wiwat Inthachaiwong to set up the panel to investigate their activities.
The three are TAO chairman Wasu Phan-ngeon; Montha Charoensukwan, assistant chief of the Ban Mai TAO; and TAO official Chuchart Phuang-gene.
Mr Wasu is facing charges of dereliction of duty while Ms Montha has been charged with making a false document for a budget withdrawal. Mr Chuchart, who was detained last Friday, also faces charges of child abduction and buying sex from girls under 18 after claiming he was the Mae Hong Son governor when he allegedly bought sex from an underage girl.
Police said Mr Wasu acknowledged the misuse of the TAO money which was meant to be spent on a study trip to Mae Hong Son. Some was diverted to buy sex services, police believe. Ban Mai TAO sought a budget to finance the trip for 23 people, although only 20 went.