A recent Wednesday SEA Mobilities seminar focused on the transnational sex trafficking scheme that trafficked hundreds of Thai women across Europe and the United States between 2016 and 2021. The case led to the sentencing of 36 defendants in the United States in 2021, marking a major development in international anti-trafficking enforcement. The session highlighted the critical role of the Thai Community Development Center, which collaborated with U.S. prosecution and investigation teams and has long advanced survivor-centered approaches to social services and access to justice.
The seminar featured Tonya Price, a U.S. HSI Supervisory Special Agent specializing in human trafficking and child exploitation and the lead officer on the Bangkok case, and Panida Rzonca, Directing Attorney at the Thai Community Development Center. Price drew on her experience from more than 70 trafficking investigations, while Rzonca outlined the Center’s trauma-informed and culturally grounded legal and social service models, including victim representation, immigration relief, labor claims, restitution, and family reunification. Together, they discussed lessons learned from the case and explored how service providers and law enforcement can collaborate effectively in victim-centric, trauma-informed settings.
The discussion was moderated by Pattraporn Chuenglertsiri of the Institute for Population and Social Research (Mahidol University), whose work focuses on migration, gender, and marginalized populations. Nanchanok Wongsamuth, a Bangkok-based journalist and former Slavery and Trafficking Correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, provided simultaneous interpretation for the session.
The full video of the event is embedded below for viewing, or click here to watch it on the SEA Junction YouTube channel, with additional details available on the SEA Junction website.
Additional research can be found below:
(1) Human trafficking laws were supposed to help women. Victims’ stories say otherwise
(2) Last defendant in Thai sex trafficking ring pleads guilty to federal charges in Minnesota
(3) Last defendant in Thai sex trafficking ring pleads guilty in Minnesota
(4) Thai Woman Pleads Guilty to Her Role in International Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
(5) Visa broker in Thai sex trafficking ring pleads guilty
(6) Last defendant in Thai sex trafficking ring pleads guilty in Minnesota
(7) 8th Circuit affirms five convictions for sex-trafficking
(8) Thirty-Six Defendants Sentenced For Their Roles In International Thai Sex Trafficking Organization
(9) Alleged boss in sophisticated sex trafficking ring extradited from Belgium to Minnesota
(10) Thai Woman Extradited To U.S., Indicted For Role In International Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
(11) 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Thailand
