Child prostitutes as young as 14 have been rescued in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces, and six people taken into custody on suspicion of child sex trafficking, police said today.
Acting on a tip, anti-trafficking cops yesterday arrested six suspects and obtained evidence against them from five rescued children, all local girls between 14 and 17.
Monchai Penlert of the anti-trafficking division today said one of the suspects told police the youngest children were the most popular and only provided to “trusted” customers.
The procurers included a pimp identified only as Tai, who worked at a hotel in Kanchanaburi city, a popular tourist destination famous from The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Police said Tai worked with several madams operating there and in neighboring Ratchaburi province to sell the girls.
All six were charged with children sex trafficking, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in jail and a THB400,000 (US$13,000) fine, the same penalty as those convicted of soliciting sex from a minor.
One was also charged with illegal firearms possession.
