Husband and Wife Arrested for Trafficking Thais to Cambodia, Locking Victims in 'Hell Prison' with Electric Shocks and Beatings, Demanding 500,000 Baht Ransom
A Thai couple was arrested in Chiang Mai for trafficking fellow Thais to Cambodia, where victims were tortured with electric shocks and forced into online fraud schemes before being ransomed for up to 500,000 baht to escape.
On May 23, 2025, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested Angkharn (Joey), 28, and Saharuthai (Kaew), 29, on court arrest warrants issued May 18, 2025, for involvement in transnational organized crime, human trafficking, and forced labor. The couple was apprehended at a rental room in Chiang Mai's San Sai District.
According to victim statements, starting in April 2024, they were recruited for administrative work in Cambodia but were instead detained and forced into a scamming operation. Victims were coerced into participating in online product sales fraud through fake Shopify platforms. Those who refused to sign contracts or failed to meet quotas faced severe punishment including electric shocks and physical beatings. Some victims reportedly witnessed torture and deaths within the Chinese-led criminal network.
When victims fell ill and requested to return to Thailand, they were demanded ransoms of 500,000 baht per person, which were later negotiated down to 120,000 baht each. Some paid up to 240,000 baht total to escape.
Investigations revealed the couple acted as recruiters, deceiving Thais to cross the border and monitoring money transfers through fraudulent accounts. After initially hiding in Saraburi Province, they fled to Chiang Mai's mountainous region before being apprehended with chat evidence used to deceive new victims.
Both suspects deny involvement in command or direction of operations, claiming they were merely workers who traveled with the victim group. They acknowledge awareness of the ransom demands and torture but deny participation. The CIB has obtained arrest warrants for ten suspects total, with several remaining at large abroad.
Authorities warn the public against accepting recruitment offers for overseas work promising unusually high compensation, as these are common tactics used for human trafficking and transnational criminal networks that may result in loss of freedom, property, or life.
