Five surrogate mothers, five babies deported
By The Nation
Published on May 31, 2011
Five pregnant Vietnamese surrogate mothers and five babies from other illegal surrogates were repatriated from Thailand yesterday.
They boarded a flight to Vietnam at 6.45am.
Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai said the babies were not entitled to Thai citizenship because their mothers had entered Thailand illegally.
"The surrogate mothers were paid Bt100,000 each," he said.
According to him, four suspects have been arrested for illegally procuring Vietnamese women to become surrogate mothers, but the mastermind behind the operation is still on the run.
"He's Taiwanese and his name is Lao Pan," Issara said.
With all the documents in the possession of the alleged mastermind, men who claim they had fathered the babies are unable to provide evidence and take custody of the children.
The Taiwanese human-trafficking gang was found to have lured 15 Vietnamese women into becoming surrogate mothers, of whom 10 were deported on May 13. Of the deported, six were not pregnant, while four had given birth to five babies, including a pair of twins.
"I will check on the repatriated victims as well," Issara said before boarding a flight to Vietnam yesterday morning.
He was scheduled to meet Vietnam's minister of public security and other relevant officials on controlling human trafficking. Issara said illegal surrogate mothers faced tougher punishment in Vietnam compared to Thailand.
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