Two women were allegedly sexually exploiting a 17-year-old in Thailand for nearly two months, according to authorities. Knowing the minor had a young daughter that she was responsible for, the women reportedly took advantage of her financial vulnerability.
An investigation into potential criminal activity began after local law enforcement found an inactive social media account that they suspected of advertising minors for sexual purposes. This discovery prompted them to contact OUR Rescue for assistance.
While the account was no longer in use, OUR investigators uncovered two female minors that may have been exploited through it. Then, investigators connected the inactive account to an active one that was also suspected of committing sexual exploitation crimes and potentially exploiting several minors.
Eventually, we discovered the identities of the individuals that operated the account and a minor that was advertised for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the 17-year-old. This led law enforcement to conduct an operation in May of 2024, with support from OUR Rescue.
The minor was rescued at a short-time hotel, where clients normally engage in sexual acts with individuals being exploited. When law enforcement spoke with her, she was in a state of shock, fear, and concern for her child.
She is now at a government shelter that houses survivors of human trafficking. While she is safe, she still has concerns, including about her child’s wellbeing. In efforts to support the survivor, OUR Rescue is providing financial support for her child.
The two women, ages 29 and 19, who are believed to have exploited the minor were arrested by police during the operation. One of the suspected traffickers first met the 17-year-old when they temporarily lived together.
Law enforcement is continuing its investigation in hopes of identifying others who might have been exploited. OUR Rescue will continue providing support as requested.