Thai woman who fell victim to smuggling ring recounts ordeal in Georgia

12 Sept 05:58 Key points summarised by AI

A Thai woman, 'Na', was lured by a Facebook ad promising high pay as a surrogate mother in Georgia, seeking to pay off her husband's debts.
Upon arrival, her passport was confiscated, and she discovered she was part of a larger group of Thai women deceived into a Chinese-led transnational human smuggling ring.
Instead of surrogacy, the women were forced to undergo monthly ova donations, turning their promised high-paying jobs into a 'living hell'.
Na managed to pay 70,000 baht for her return to Thailand and subsequently alerted authorities, leading to a joint rescue operation by Thai police and Interpol for other victims.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.