Thai smuggling

9 Southern California residents accused in a large-scale international sex trafficking ring
Federal authorities have accused nine Southern California residents of participating in a large-scale, international sex trafficking ring that abused and enslaved hundreds of Thai women who had been recruited with promises of a better life in the U.S.

The nine defendants were among 20 people arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Austin, Houston and Chicago in connection with the sex trafficking and money laundering operation, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota.

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Sex-trafficking ring forced hundreds of Thai women to 'live a nightmare' in US
Arrests were made in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Honolulu of 12 Thai and five US nationals, and the accused Thai boss was arrested in Belgium in August, they said. Four other suspects remain at large, they said.

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El Monte sweatshop slavery case still resonates 20 years later
Los Angeles is still considered a hotbed for wage theft by state labor officials, in part because of its large informal economy and because many local industries rely on subcontractors - like the garment industry. This promises challenges for local officials as a new minimum wage law kicks in.

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Smuggling People to U.S. Is Big Business in Thailand
Fifty miles from the Mekong River, a man wearing a gray safari suit showed up in March, peddling the American dream.

His name was Ekapop Kotalee, and he said he was a doctor. He told people he could find them jobs in the United States, even if their only prior work experience was planting and harvesting rice paddies.

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Note: This is still happening in Los Angeles.