Police raid Ratchaburi karaoke bar over child trafficking

RATCHABURI — 14 September 2026, Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division’s Human Trafficking Suppression Division arrested three women accused of conspiring to traffic children for prostitution at a karaoke bar in Ratchaburi province.

Police said Pol. Maj. Gen. Witthaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division’s Human Trafficking Suppression Division, ordered officers from Division 5 to carry out the operation on 14 September.

The suspects were identified as a 49-year-old woman, a 26-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman. They were arrested at a karaoke bar in Tha Chumphon subdistrict, Photharam district, Ratchaburi.

All three were wanted under arrest warrants issued by the Ratchaburi Provincial Court on multiple charges related to alleged human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children.

The charges include conspiring to commit human trafficking for the purpose of exploiting children through prostitution; jointly trafficking children for prostitution; procuring, enticing or transporting people for prostitution involving children aged 15 or younger; facilitating or protecting prostitution; taking or transporting children for sexual exploitation; and forcing, threatening, persuading or encouraging children to engage in sexually exploitative or obscene activities.

The arrests followed an investigation after officers received information that the karaoke bar was allegedly bringing girls under the age of 15 to work as hostesses.

According to police, the girls were allegedly dressed provocatively and worked as drinking companions to entertain customers before being offered for sexual services.

Police said the alleged sexual services were offered for Baht 1,000-1,200 per encounter. The bar owner, manager and staff allegedly acted as intermediaries, soliciting customers and taking a Baht 200 commission from each payment made to the girls.

Investigators also identified and assisted another alleged victim, a girl under 18 who had previously worked at the venue as a drinking companion.

A multidisciplinary team was contacted to provide protection and psychological rehabilitation for the girl in accordance with procedures for victims of human trafficking and child exploitation.

Police said all three suspects denied the charges during questioning.

They were taken to investigators at Division 5 of the Crime Suppression Division’s Human Trafficking Suppression Division for further legal proceedings.