Four men were arrested during a series of raids in Suphan Buri province yesterday for allegedly operating brothels disguised as restaurants, police said.
Women, including Lao nationals, cover their faces as they are rescued from restaurants where they were lured into selling sex in Suphan Buri yesterday. Police and welfare workers said 72 females aged between 14-20 who were duped into working as waitresses at restaurants used as fronts for brothels. Apichit Jinakul
The four were named as Narongsak Luangwilai, 39, owner of the New Kalong restaurant, Kaewdilok Meekaewnoi, 55, owner of the Nong Grace restaurant, Korakot Supranon, 24, owner of the Saengchan restaurant and Sutthiphong Warin, 30, owner of the Nong Mai restaurant.
All four restaurants are located in Song Phi Nong district, said a police source attached to the National Operation Centre on Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking.
The suspects were forcing Thai and Lao women, including underage girls, to provide sexual services in brothels, with the karaoke restaurants acting as a front, police said.
The raids came after a 15-year-old Lao girl contacted the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women's 1134 hotline on Dec 1, asking for help.
She told the operator she and her sister had been lured into the sex trade after being hired to work as waitresses at a restaurant in Song Phi Nong district.
The foundation chairwoman, Pavena Hongsakula, said the girl was forced to work as a prostitute after only having worked in the restaurant for three days.
Police together with Ms Pavena and social workers from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security raided the four karaoke restaurants yesterday.
Each restaurant has several small rooms behind it, police said.
A total of 72 Thai and Lao females aged between 14 and 20 were found at the restaurants, police said.
The suspects were charged with procuring women into prostitution, police said. Officials were trying to determine whether the Lao women entered the country illegally.