Thai police in Mahar Chai, Samut Sakhon Province, have arrested four Burmese nationals for trafficking Burmese women and forcing them to be sex workers, says Nai Pannya Pinzau, the head of police in Region 3.

The gang members are U Myint (27 year), U Myo (33), Nai San Saw (24) and U Inn Soe (24). There were arrested near Thai Union company, Tamboon 7, Htarsa Township, Samut Sakhun district on October 2.

Nai Pannya Pinzau in-charge of Police (Regional 3) said that they arrested the gang when the Rat Thai Foundation informed the police of the gang's activities. Two victims, ages fourteen and twenty-seven, were rescued, added the head of police.

According to the victims the gang promised them a job at a prawn factory and a 200 baht per day salary. The victims agreed to repay the men 13,000 baht in exchange for bringing them from Kawthaung, Tenasserim Division.

When the victims arrived in Mahar Chai, however, they were not given jobs in the prawn factory. Instead, U Myint and the other men raped them, held them in captivity and forced them to be sex workers.