Thai mother arrested for trafficking 12-year-old daughter to Japan sex trade
SAMUT PRAKAN, Dec 24 (TNA) - Thai police have arrested a 29-year-old woman for allegedly trafficking her 12-year-old daughter into the sex trade in Japan, authorities said on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified only as Laksana, was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s arrival hall after being deported from Taiwan. The arrest followed a cross-border investigation involving the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tokyo police.
Authorities allege that in June 2025, Laksana took her daughter to Tokyo during a school break under the guise of finding work. Upon arrival, the child was reportedly handed over to the "Relax Time" massage parlor in the Bunkyo district.
Investigations revealed the girl was forced to provide sexual services to clients. The shop allegedly charged 8,000 yen per hour for standard massages and 12,000 yen for sexual services. The proceeds from the sexual services were transferred by the massage parlor owner into a Japanese bank account before being converted into Thai baht and sent to Laksana’s personal account in Thailand.
The victim believed her mother would eventually come back to pick her up, a Thai investigator said. When she realized she could not contact her mother, she took the opportunity to escape.
The girl fled the parlor in mid-September and sought help from Tokyo Immigration officials, triggering an international coordination effort. Japanese authorities have since raided the establishment and arrested the shop owner and staff.
Laksana has been charged with human trafficking and procuring a minor for lewd acts. Despite the evidence, she denied all charges during initial questioning.
