Cops bust underage prostitution gang

Cops bust underage prostitution gang

Sting operation nets head of sex website in Rayong

Police have arrested a gang which allegedly lured underage girls into prostitution in Rayong in a sting operation lasting over two months.

Kriangkrai: Facing charges of trafficking

After tracking the suspects using their mobile phones, Crime Suppression Division police finally arrested Kriangkrai Namsanit, 36, at his house in Rayong’s Muang district.

Two other alleged female accomplices — Ammara Kemarun, 20, and Aranya Lochit, 22 — were also held at a love motel.

The CSD officers also seized 3,500-baht in cash from the suspects which had been used in the operation to order underage girls from the gang.

The operation began two months ago after CSD’s Region 5 superintendent Pol Col Watcharaphon Thongluan received a complaint that a website advertising “girls next door working on the sideline” might be a front for a prostitution ring which providing sex services from girls aged under 18.

The officer formed an investigation team led by his deputy, Pol Lt Col Panya Chaemthet, an expert in technology crimes including illegal use of the internet.

The investigators began their search for suspects by using a police informant disguised as a customer interested in the sex services advertised on the website.

The informant contacted the website by leaving his email address and other details on its page and requesting a reply.

It was not long until the gang took the bait, believing the informant was a real customer, said Pol Col Watcharaphon.

A man, who identified himself only as “Mr K”, sent photos of young girls to the informant to guarantee they were all under 18 years old.

Pol Lt Col Panya said Mr K was at first reluctant to send the girls to his customer. The informant then gave his phone number to the suspect and waited for his call.

Mr K eventually called back and this allowed the investigators to start searching for Mr K’s whereabouts.

A check of Mr K’s mobile phone number found he had last used it in Muang district.

He made and received most calls at his house and at the Star Plaza shopping mall, where he worked as a DJ for a local radio station.

Further investigations also unearthed that the suspect usually visited a convenience store in the morning to buy pre-paid phone services.

Pol Lt Col Panya said police obtained his photo from the store’s security camera footage.

Mr K was careful about making a deal with the informant.

However, he finally promised he would “ask another agent” to send girls to the informant, Pol Lt Col Panya said.

The suspect’s answer convinced police that Mr K was part of a network offering underage sexual services.

The officers split into separate teams. One continued monitoring Mr K at his house, while others hid at a hotel where the girls were sent.

Two young students were later brought to a hotel room by Ms Ammara and Ms Aranya.

To ensure they were pursuing the right suspects, the police told the informant to request one more girl, and the gang complied.

Police then arrested Ms Ammara and Ms Aranya while another team raided Mr K’s house and nabbed him. He was later identified as Kriangkrai.

The three suspects face charges of human trafficking and luring girls into prostitution.

The young girls claimed they provided the sexual services because they wanted money for shopping and leisure, Pol Lt Col Panya said.


Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th

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