By webfact , September 17, in Thailand News. A human trafficking gang smuggled young Lao women into Nong Khai before moving them to a traditional massage shop in Phetchaburi for sex work. They did this by disguising the young women as tour bus hostesses, Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai revealed yesterday. A total of 11 Lao girls and young women aged from 15 to 22 were rescued after a raid on Saturday on a brothel in downtown Phetchaburi.
One man and two women were also arrested. The minister said he was told the young women were lured by compatriots to work as waitresses in a Nong Khai restaurant.
The restaurant owner allegedly taught them how to dress beautifully, how to put make-up - later billed at Bt4, a set - and took some girls to an eyebrow tattooist to make them look prettier. The restaurant owner paid for these costs but later made the girls repay all expenses.
They were then convinced to prostitute themselves and the restaurant owner would either take the girls in personal cars send them on tour buses, with the girls disguised as hostesses to avoid police attention.
Costly transport expenses of Bt15, to Bt20, were also charged and recorded for later collection from the women, Issara was told. At the massage shop, they were forced to provide sex services for customers at Bt per time, although the girls' real payment was just Bt, while the rest went to the managers.
