CHIANGRAI/TAK — Thai authorities have uncovered two alarming cases showing how children are increasingly being exploited by organized crime — from online scam syndicates to cross-border sex trafficking.
In northern Thailand, cyber police arrested three 19-year-olds — Ms. Waralee, Mr. Khajorn, and Ms. Witchayaporn — in Chiang Saen and Mae Sai districts of Chiang Rai province for using minors to open “mule accounts” for online gambling and scam rings.
Investigations revealed that the group deceived local children and teenagers into opening bank accounts for 3,000 baht ($92) each, which were later resold for up to 30,000 baht ($920) to gambling and call center networks. The accounts were then used to launder millions of baht in illicit funds every month.
Ms. Witchayaporn, who gained notoriety online as part of an aggressive mule-account gang, admitted to recruiting minors to evade tightened banking controls. Many of the underage account holders have since received police summonses after their names were linked to fraud and scam activities. The Cyber Crime Investigation Division 4 is expanding its probe to identify and arrest higher-level financiers.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, two schoolgirls aged 13 and 14 were rescued from a karaoke bar in Myanmar, where they were being trafficked for sexual services to Chinese clients. Forced to work nightly from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., the girls eventually managed to contact their families, who paid 8,000 baht ($245) to secure their release.
Following their return, the families filed complaints with the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, leading to the arrest of Mr. Aphinop, 59, a suspected member of the trafficking network, in Mae Sot, Tak province. He now faces charges including child prostitution, human trafficking involving minors under 15, and abduction for indecent purposes.
Both cases underscore a disturbing trend — criminal groups are increasingly targeting children as tools or victims in expanding networks of financial fraud and human exploitation, both online and across borders.
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