A 33-year-old man was arrested in Bangkok’s Bung Kum district on Friday morning for allegedly enticing boys into pornography for sale online.
The man, identified by police only as Patcharanan, was taken into custody at his house on Navamin 42 Road about 6am, Pol Maj Gen Wiwat Khamchamnan, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, said.
He was wanted under an arrest warrant approved by the Criminal Court on Wednesday, for the production and distribution of child pornographic material and molestation of children aged 15 years or less.
Police impounded the suspect’s mobile phone and computer, which they said contained many pornographic pictures.
The arrest was made during raids on four premises on Friday morning – in Bangkok, Ang Thong, Chaiyaphum and Kanchanaburi – believed to be part of a commercial child pornography ring.
Pol Maj Gen Wiwat said the operation followed information gained from the arrest of a child pornography suspect in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom on Feb 4.
He said gang members would approach boys and entice them into pornography in exchange for money and in-game items.
The gang then shared the pictures with members of private online groups that charged subscription fees of 150-400 baht.
They included the Phad Kaphrao (stir-fried basil) group, which had about 400 members.
