The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women called on the Thai and Chinese governments today to crack down on a Chinese-led human smuggling gang, which has allegedly lured over 100 Thai women to work in Georgia with promises of high incomes.
The gang also promised the women excellent living conditions but, upon arrival, their passports were confiscated and they were quarantined in small rooms.
They were also forced to donate their ova every month, a process that could be harmful to their health, and forced to pay large sums of money if they wanted to return to Thailand.
The foundation’s chairwoman and founder, Pavena Hongsakula, said at a press conference that her organisation learned about the women’s ordeal in Georgia from one of the women who had come home, after her family transferred Bt70,000 to the gang.
Upon her return to Thailand, the woman, Na (not real name), alerted the foundation, which then sought cooperation from the Thai police’s Foreign Affairs Division commander, Surapan Thaiprasert.
Interpol later joined the operation, leading to the rescue of three more women from Georgia, who were repatriated to Thailand on January 30.
According to the testimonies of the freed women, the Chinese-led gang lured women via social media platforms, telling them that surrogacy is a legitimate profession in Georgia and Europe and promising monthly incomes ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 baht.
Once in Georgia, however, they were confined in a house and frequently relocated. There were no surrogacy jobs for them and they never met any couples seeking surrogate mothers.
Pavena did not disclose further details about the raid or the location of the human smuggling ring’s operations.
She stated that more than 100 Thai women had fallen victim to the scam and want to return home.
“I urge the Thai and Chinese governments to take immediate action against this gang and to investigate their smuggling routes into Georgia. Many women are still waiting for government assistance,” according to Pavena.
