Human trafficking in Thailand drops as coronavirus restrictions hinder networks

A report found only 131 cases were filed last year, compared to 288 the previous year, following Covid-19 curfews and business closures

Thailand has also improved its efforts to stop trafficking in recent years after criticism about abuses in its seafood and textile sectors and its sex trade

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Sex workers stand in a largely shut-down red light area in Bangkok in March after a state of emergency was declared. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00am, 22 Jan 2021Updated: 8:00am, 22 Jan 2021

Police in Thailand last year launched the lowest number of human trafficking investigations in a decade as coronavirus restrictions on businesses and borders hindered criminal networks, according to a soon-to-be released government report.

A total of 131 cases were filed last year – down from 288 in 2019 – according to the data, which was compiled for an annual US report ranking countries on their anti-trafficking efforts.

Of those probes – the lowest annual number since 81 in 2010 – about 90 per cent involved sexual exploitation while most of the others were related to forced labour, the report found.

“Curfews and temporary closures of … businesses reduced possible opportunities for sex and labour trafficking,” said the report.

“A greater number of migrant workers returned to their home countries awaiting the reopening of workplaces, while border-control restrictions made it more difficult for transnational organised crime groups to commit human trafficking”, it said.

Thailand has pointed to improved efforts to stop trafficking in recent years, under scrutiny from the United States and following criticism of its failure to tackle abuses in its lucrative seafood and textile sectors, as well as the sex trade.