Rescued human trafficking victims in Thailand nears record high
The number of human trafficking victims rescued in Thailand is set to hit a record high this year, according to government data, with demand for cheap labour in neighbouring Malaysia causing a jump in the illegal trade.
Thai police have rescued 974 trafficking victims — mostly from Myanmar — for the year to date, compared to 622 for the whole of last year and a previous annual high of 982 in 2015, according to data released last week by the Thai government’s anti-trafficking division.
Thailand has come under scrutiny in recent years for slavery and trafficking.
The U.S. State Department this year in its human trafficking report kept Thailand on a watchlist and criticised the Southeast Asian country for not doing enough to tackle the problem.
“There’s a high possibility that figures this year will reach a record high, with many victims telling us they were planning to work in Malaysia,” said Police Colonel Mana Kleebsattabudh, deputy commander at the anti-trafficking division.
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