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Bangkok (Thailand), October 28 (ANI): An advocacy group has called on the Thai government to urgently intervene to secure the release of more than 100 human trafficking victims, mostly from Laos, who are allegedly being held captive by a ‘Chinese mafia syndicate’ in Kayin State, Myanmar.
According to a report from Radio Free Asia, the Thailand-based Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking has sent an open letter to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, detailing the plight of these victims, many of whom are trapped in areas under surveillance by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Border Guard (BGF).
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According to the group, approximately 110 individuals from nine countries, including 19 from Laos, are trapped in a web of exploitation facilitated by these armed groups, which have established a significant presence near the Thai border town of Mae Sot.
The DKBA, a splinter faction of Myanmar’s Karen National Union, and the BGF, formed under the junta’s control, have created a thriving ecosystem of illegal businesses, including casinos and online scam operations.
The letter emphasized that the DKBA and the BGF are not just passive players, but actively benefit from human trafficking, as the Chinese mafia syndicate uses the Mae Sot district as a crucial transit hub for human trafficking victims.
These groups exploit the geographical advantage of the shared border along the Moei River to lure vulnerable individuals from different countries into dangerous situations in Myanmar.
Human trafficking in Thailand, especially linked to Chinese mafia networks, represents a critical problem characterized by the exploitation of vulnerable populations, especially migrants from countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Many victims are deceived by false promises of work and better living conditions, eventually becoming trapped in forced labor or the sex trade.
A 2020 report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlights that organized crime groups, including Chinese triads, have established elaborate operations in Thailand, using complex networks that include smuggling routes and fraudulent recruitment practices.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report notes that corruption within law enforcement complicates anti-trafficking efforts, with some officials potentially colluding with traffickers, undermining anti-trafficking initiatives.
This multifaceted problem requires urgent attention and coordinated responses to protect vulnerable individuals and dismantle these criminal networks. (ANI)
This report is automatically generated by the ANI news service. ThePrint is not responsible for its content.