"Thai victims exposed in US human trafficking", 19 February 2018

Recent high-profile cases in Thailand are a reminder of the scourge of human trafficking. …US cities of Houston and Los Angeles on sex trafficking rings involving Thai women often working in seemingly legitimate massage parlours….

“They were never able to realise they were victims,” said Samantha Hernandez…of Elijah Rising, an NGO fighting to end human trafficking and social exploitation….

…Its present quarters…hosts offices of the NGO…and replica of Angela Day Spa, showing the living conditions in which the Thai victims were forced to live.

…East Asia and the Asia-Pacific are the points of origin from which most people are trafficked to the United States….

“Most massage parlours here operate legally. But you’ll hardly know if they do anything ‘backstage’,” said attorney Panida Rzonca….

Panida, the organisation’s lead attorney, recently assisted victims of a sex trafficking ring that was exposed in Minnesota last year. About 1,000 Thai women had been forced into sex work and victimised.

Most former victims end up working in restaurants or legitimate massage parlours.

“Most victims choose to continue making money in the US, not only for the economic opportunity but also because they are scared about their family members’ welfare if they are found back in Thailand,” Panida said.

“Victims are most likely traumatised by their traffickers’ threats that they will harm their loved ones back home if they are ever found to have escaped,” she added.