BANGKOK – Thai authorities have arrested a 28-year-old man and seized more than 500,000 files of child pornography on his devices in the central province of Pathum Thani.

According to Bangkok Post, the man, a local and proprietor of a child modelling agency was arrested and charged on Thursday for downloading and distributing child pornography, as well as molesting thousands of minors, aged 13 and below.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Korawat Panprapakorn said the authorities started the probe after the Australian Federal Police alerted and provided them with a single image of child pornography.

With technical support from California-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Operation Underground Railroad, he said that authorities managed to detect the suspect and make an arrest at the modelling agency office yesterday.

“We found cameras, a studio, and more than 500,000 videos and images of child pornography on the premises,” he said.

Meanwhile, Korawat also advised parents to verify modelling agencies before allowing their children to participate in photography sessions, especially when the parents are not present.

He added that DSI will coordinate with NGOs to provide counselling sessions for the children who were sexually assaulted.

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