Shocking allegations have emerged from three women who claimed to have escaped from a human egg farm, where they were allegedly lured under the guise of surrogacy for childless couples. According to the Bangkok Post, these Thai women were targeted by Chinese gangs operating in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, using social media to attract victims.
“They took us to a house where there were 60 to 70 Thai women. The women there told us there was no surrogacy contracts or parents,” one victim recounted, as reported by Reuters.
The women disclosed that they were subjected to hormone injections for egg harvesting, anaesthetized, and had their eggs extracted using a machine. Realizing the situation was not what they had been promised, they grew fearful and tried to reach out to people back home.
How Were They Freed?
Pavena Hongsakula, founder of the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, played a crucial role in securing the women’s freedom. On January 30, Foreign Affairs Police coordinated with Interpol to rescue the three women, after Hongsakula was informed of their plight by another victim who had previously paid for her release from the same gang.
According to the foundation, 257 Thai individuals fell victim to human traffickers in 2024, with 152 rescued through their efforts. A livestream on the foundation’s Facebook page highlighted their advocacy for the victims, revealing the ongoing issue of women being trafficked for egg harvesting.
Lured By False Promises
One victim revealed that she was drawn in by a job offer on Facebook, promising a salary of 400,000 to 600,000 baht (approximately ₹10 to 15 lakh). After being contacted, she believed she was being hired as a surrogate in Georgia, with her passport and travel expenses covered by the employer. Upon arrival, however, the women discovered they were confined under horrifying conditions and treated like “battery hens,” being “fed hormones” and exploited.
Harvesting Process
According to the victims, they were regularly administered hormones to stimulate their ovaries, and then anaesthetized for monthly egg extractions. These harvested eggs were reportedly sold and trafficked for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in other countries. Diana Thomas, CEO of The World Egg and Sperm Bank, noted that the market is flooded with illegally harvested eggs from women in developing nations, often misrepresented to clients as ethically sourced.
“It’s all a lie,” Thomas stated, emphasizing that the marketing targets the Western audience, presenting these women as educated and middle-class to alleviate any guilt associated with their exploitation.
Credit: Hindustan Times
