German authorities say they have raided 62 properties and arrested seven people in an investigation of the ring which allegedly brought Thais over to work as prostitutes. They said the chief suspects are a year-old Thai national and her year-old German partner, who are suspected of setting up the network. Police had yet to name them last night. Officials say the couple ran three brothels in the western town of Siegen where the Thais, who entered Germany on fraudulently obtained tourist visas, were initially put to work before being sent to other towns.
Federal police spokesman Ralf Stroeher told n-tv investigators in April last year that officer had started looking into the group, "which, according to our investigation so far, trafficked women and transsexuals from Thailand to Germany in over cases".
Police said on Twitter the raids, which involved more than 1, officers, prosecutors and tax officials, represented the biggest mass search in the history of the federal force. Germany, which legalised prostitution in , has sought to regulate brothels more strictly in recent years. They are suspected of offences including trafficking foreigners, forced prostitution, pimping, withholding and embezzling wages, and tax evasion.
The main suspects failed to register their workers for social benefits between and , prosecutors said. Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said: "We have checked with our Consulate-General in Frankfurt and was told that they will be getting a report from the German authorities. Four Chinese men have been arrested for begging in Bangkok, with bogus stories to draw public sympathy that allowed them to earn 2, baht a day each.
Senior public health officials insist the hazardous substances committee neither eased nor delayed the ban on three toxic farm chemicals, as the industry minister announced. Civilians continue to flee into Thailand to escape clashes between Myanmar government troops and Mon fighters across the border from Kanchanaburi. Other Services. Germany smashes Thai sex trade gang 1.
