Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police are stepping up its crackdown on human trafficking, with a focus on suppressing child sexual abuse cases.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Police have intensified its crackdown on human trafficking, focusing on suppressing child sexual abuse cases, those in the fishing industry, and online crimes, following a rise in prevalence. They emphasized their commitment to intensified efforts.
Today (December 4, 2026), Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Center, revealed that following a recent meeting to monitor and assess the human trafficking situation, the Royal Thai Police, under the leadership of Police General Kittirat Phanphet, Commissioner General, prioritizes upgrading the prevention and suppression of human trafficking to align with evolving circumstances and crime patterns. This is achieved through comprehensive efforts encompassing law enforcement, prevention, protection and assistance of victims, and integrated cooperation with relevant domestic and international partners. Furthermore, efforts are being made to educate the public on the issue of human trafficking prevention.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Center of the Royal Thai Police reported on its operations in preventing and suppressing human trafficking in 2025. The report revealed a total of 279 human trafficking cases, resulting in the issuance of arrest warrants and prosecution of 366 suspects, and the rescue of 317 victims. Categorized by the type of offense, the majority were cases of sexual exploitation (246 cases), followed by forced labor (33 cases). This includes 15 cases of forced labor in the form of call center scams. Of particular concern is that the majority of human trafficking victims were children and youth, totaling 213 individuals.
Furthermore, statistics for 2025 reflect the increasing threat of cybercrime, with 170 cases of human trafficking committed online, accounting for more than half of all cases. This reflects a shift in the trend of criminal activity towards online platforms.
The Deputy National Police Chief stated that, based on the analysis of the situation, the Royal Thai Police will focus on proactive measures on key issues, including the suppression of child sexual abuse, sextortion, human trafficking, and exploitation in the fishing industry, as well as online offenses. This will be coupled with public awareness campaigns to prevent vulnerable groups, especially children and youth, from becoming victims of all forms of human trafficking.
Simultaneously, the Royal Thai Police continues to prioritize the strict implementation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to separate offenders from victims and protect victims of human trafficking, especially those who may have been deceived into working in neighboring countries and forced to commit crimes.
Pol. Gen. Thatchai added that the Royal Thai Police will continuously upgrade its efforts to prevent and suppress all forms of human trafficking, strictly enforcing the law while protecting the human rights of victims in accordance with international principles. Furthermore, the police will enhance their skills, knowledge, and understanding to maximize the effectiveness of their operations in preventing and suppressing human trafficking.