2008
In 2008, a case emerged where several migrants were found to be illegally smuggled into Thailand by traffickers. Fifty-seven of these migrants suffocated to death while being transported after being confined in a seafood container where the air-conditioning system malfunctioned. There were 67 survivors of the journey, and they told of how they had hopes of finding work in Thailand, but conditions in the lorry suddenly became unbearable. The driver ignored protests by the passengers, fearing that the police would be suspicious at checkpoints, and fled the scene when he realized that individuals had collapsed (MacKinnon). This story calls the issues of trafficking to our attention, and reminds us that change must be initiated in order for conditions to be improved.