BANGKOK — Thai authorities have shut down a criminal organization known as the VIP Group that distributed child pornography through social media platforms, following a coordinated operation led by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
The operation, targeting the asianclip.xyz website and Telegram platform, resulted in three arrests across Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Trang provinces. The network generated over 100,000 baht monthly from more than 20,000 members who paid between 300-1,000 baht for access to explicit content.
The year-long investigation, conducted by DSI in partnership with the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) and various child protection organizations, including LIFT International, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR Rescue), The Scientia Program Foundation and Thai Hotline, uncovered over 20,000 images and 100,000 video clips.
The network was responsible for the production, distribution and sharing of pornographic content via websites and Telegram groups. Authorities identified more than 2,000 victims connected to the network.
On Nov. 27, authorities conducted raids in four locations in three provinces: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Trang. They executed arrest warrants for suspects involved in the production and distribution of pornographic material.
Among those arrested were the website administrator Thatchaphon, alleged money mule Songwut, and Thanakorn, who is accused of producing explicit content by coercing victims. A fourth suspect remains at large.
The operation marked Thailand’s first fully coordinated law enforcement effort of its kind, utilizing a specially trained US police dog named Winner to detect electronic devices containing evidence.
Victims of exploitation are encouraged to report incidents to the DSI’s Technology and Information Cases Division or the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, with assured confidentiality.
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