Trapped in the Surrogacy Boom: Thai Women Rescued from Human Egg Farms in Georgia

Three Thai women have been rescued from a human egg trafficking operation in Georgia, run by a Chinese human trafficking syndicate. One of the victims, speaking anonymously at a press conference, revealed how she was deceived by an online job advertisement promising lucrative surrogacy work. The offer included a monthly salary of 25,000 Thai baht ($742.94 U.S.) and an all-expenses-paid trip to Georgia to help childless couples.

However, upon arrival, the women’s passports were confiscated, and they were told they were in the country illegally and would face arrest if they tried to leave. They were confined to group homes with several other Thai women and injected with hormones to stimulate egg production. Their harvested eggs were then allegedly sold and trafficked for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) purposes.

The operation was exposed when one of the victims managed to secure her release by paying a ransom of 70,000 baht ($2,053 U.S.). Upon returning to Thailand, she alerted The Pavena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, a local NGO, which then informed Thai authorities. A coordinated rescue effort involving Interpol...