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Slavers prey on naive job seekers at five city hotspots


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Slavers prey on naive job seekers at five city hotspots

Mor Chit bus terminal rated most dangerous

 

LAMPHAI INTATHEP

 

 

 

Five areas in Bangkok have been named as kidnapping hotspots for human traffickers.

 

The gangs have become so brazen one of their favourite "hunting grounds" is behind the Supreme Court building.

 

The Mirror Foundation, which is dedicated to stopping the trade in humans, said victims are lured by the promise of employment and often end up as slaves on fishing trawlers.

 

The hotspots are Mor Chit bus terminal, Sanam Luang, Rommaneenart public park, Hua Lamphong railway station and Wong Wian Yai.

 

The foundation's anti-human trafficking centre chief, Eaklak Loomchomkhae, said kidnapping was common in the capital as people from the provinces head to the city for jobs.

 

Mor Chit terminal was the most popular haunt for the gangs. Traffickers often pose as bus ticket agents and target people who are about to return to their provinces. They convinced them they can give them well-paid jobs.

 

Three gangs were operating in the Sanam Luang area - near Klong Lod, behind the Supreme Court and around Sanam Luang itself.

 

Early this year, the foundation and police rescued one man snared by gang members near Thammasat University. He had been sold to a fishing boat operator in Songkhla.

 

At Rommaneenart public park, gang members target homeless and jobless people.

 

They pose as job brokers and often sell their victims to fishing boat operators, who treat them like slaves.

 

On July 11 this year, three victims, aged between 20 and 39, were rescued by marine police in Songkhla. They were victims of gangs operating at Rommaneenart public park.

 

The gangs are also active around Hua Lamphong railway station. On May 27, police rescued a 14-year-old boy tricked by a gang member there into working on a fishing boat in Samut Prakan.

 

At Wong Wian Yai, job seekers and homeless people are falling victim to gangs operating at the railway station and near Ban Khaek intersection.

 

Mr Eaklak said gangs have devised cunning ways of deceiving uneducated people.

 

Some unsuspecting victims are abducted on their first day in Bangkok. Most victims are from the northeastern provinces.

 

He urged police and welfare agencies to keep a close watch on these five locations.

 

Karaoke bars have also been targetted by the gangs, he said.

 

In many cases victims' drinks are spiked, rendering them unconscious.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.net/191208_News/19Dec2008_news13.php

 

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