Officials in Vientiane Police Headquarters pledged yesterday to work harder on human trafficking in Vientiane because the problem is increasing in the capital.
The officials talked to the Vientiane Times yesterday saying that so many entertainment venues in Vientiane are offering prostitutes to customers and several of them continue to develop new ways to run the illegal business.
Director of the Anti Human Trafficking department, Major Sengthong Keuanbounlam, explained that traditionally there are three ways that pimps sell prostitution services in Vientiane including opening drinking bars and restaurants which front for the illegal sex trade going on inside while the second way is to deliver the prostitutes to the addresses where they are ordered. The third is by providing ‘hostess' services in karaoke bars and lounges.
“We have had some successes in reducing the second method as our officers have arrested so many of them. During a recent operation on April 25, we detained a limousine with seven prostitutes in it plus one of the major people running this type of business,” he explained.
The officials reported that most of the women in the vehicle were sent to a training centre run by the Lao Women's Union where the problem of human trafficking and its consequences would be explained to them.
“The one who is the human trafficker was arrested and held under investigation for other related gangster activities,” Major Sengthong said.
He also explained that following further investigation it seems that these days most of the pimps have found many different ways to conduct their business but the officials would not say how many as they wished to keep this matter confide ntial.
“We already have some information about what they are planning to do. We also have a strategy to solve the problem,” Major Sengthong said.
According to press investigations recently, many karaoke venues in Vientiane now include the prostitution business as well as the beer bars and restaurants. Moreover, no longer is it just local people working as prostitutes in Vientiane, there were also some women from neighbouring countries doing the same thing here.
Vientiane Police Headquarters has to work hard on the problem especially in the major areas where these women go to work in Vientiane. “We will explain to their parents so that they know the tricks of these traffickers who will cheat their children and sell them to entertainment venues as well as sell them across the border,” Major Sengthong said.
He added that the officials carry out their mission to overcome the problem with a defined strategy as well as the cooperation of other people who provide them with information to help solve human trafficking in Laos.
