Authorities in Surin Province, Thailand have arrested a 24-year-old dental assistant for human trafficking and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material through a private Telegram group, with victims as young as 13 years old.
The arrest was made on May 5, 2026, as part of the Ministry of Interior’s intensified crackdown on human trafficking and cybercrime under the government’s urgent national policy.
The Department of Provincial Administration, working alongside local agencies in Surin Province, launched the operation following a formal complaint from The Scientia Program and Destiny Rescue Foundation, two international organisations dedicated to rescuing children from trafficking and sexual exploitation. The organisations had identified a Telegram account administrator running a private subscription-based group distributing child pornography with both monthly and lifetime membership options.
Investigators found that the suspect would befriend victims through social media platforms and dating applications, gradually gaining their trust before secretly filming sexual encounters. He allegedly fabricated elaborate storylines around the videos to increase their appeal and attract paying subscribers, charging 299 baht per month or 599 baht for lifetime access.
Armed with arrest and search warrants issued by Surin Provincial Court, officers raided the suspect’s residence and seized multiple mobile phones along with substantial digital evidence. More than 300 videos of sexual abuse involving dozens of victims were recovered, with further investigation uncovering three additional child victims, the youngest believed to be only 13 years old.
The suspect was charged with human trafficking, violations of the Computer Crimes Act, and child pornography offences before being handed over to investigators at Prasat Police Station for further legal proceedings.
During the operation, codenamed Ayara Protection, officers rescued a 16-year-old girl and activated the National Referral Mechanism. A multidisciplinary team conducted screening interviews before placing the girl in a children’s shelter for psychological rehabilitation.
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, Mr Ronnarong Thipsiri, said combating human trafficking and technology-enabled crimes remains a top government priority. “Criminals are increasingly using technology and deceptive tactics to exploit children’s innocence for sexual gain. This not only destroys the child’s future but permanently stigmatises the victim online. We will continue to crack down on these criminal networks,” he said.
Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify and assist additional victims.
