Scars that Shine: False Promises, Stolen Futures & the Human Egg Trafficking Crisis

Editor's Note: This is an article that was sourced from Reuters and will be updated as and when new information is sourced. 

In a case that highlights the continued exploitation of women in today's world, a disturbing human trafficking operation has come to light. Dozens of Thai women were lured to Georgia under the false promise of high-paying surrogacy jobs—only to find themselves trapped in a nightmarish black-market egg harvesting ring.

The women were recruited through deceptive online ads, particularly on Facebook, advertising lucrative opportunities in Georgia with promised earnings of 400,000 to 600,000 baht (approximately $11,800–$17,700). The offers included travel and accommodation expenses, making them appear legitimate and enticing. But once the women arrived, their passports were seized, and they were transported to heavily controlled compounds. There, they joined more than 100 other Thai women, not for surrogacy work—but to be subjected to repeated hormone injections and monthly egg retrieval procedures against their will.

These women's bodies were turned into commodities. The eggs harvested from them were allegedly sold on the black market to support in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in foreign countries—profiting unscrupulous networks while leaving the women physically and emotionally scarred.

The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, a Thai non-governmental organization, has been instrumental in exposing this horrific abuse. Their investigation began after one brave victim managed to return home by paying a ransom of 70,000 baht. Her story revealed the scale of the operation and the urgent need for intervention. Working in coordination with Thai authorities and Interpol, the foundation helped rescue and repatriate three women on January 30, 2025. But this is only the beginning—over 100 Thai women are still believed to be held in captivity in Georgia.

Investigations point to a trafficking network allegedly operated by Chinese nationals. Georgia’s Interior Ministry has confirmed that four foreign nationals have been questioned in connection with the case. Meanwhile, the Thai government is actively pursuing diplomatic collaboration with Chinese authorities to dismantle the network and secure the release of all remaining victims.

This case is a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities women face—even today—when global systems fail to protect them. It casts a harsh spotlight on the dark underbelly of the international fertility industry, particularly in countries like Georgia, which has become a surrogacy hub due to its permissive legal environment. In response to growing scrutiny, Georgia has announced intentions to ban commercial surrogacy.

The exploitation of these women is not just a legal issue—it is a human rights crisis. It underscores the urgent need for stronger international laws, tighter regulation of the fertility industry, and a renewed global commitment to protecting women from exploitation, coercion, and abuse.

Even in this modern era, too many women still find themselves preyed upon by those who see them not as human beings, but as means to profit. Their voices must be heard. Their stories must be told. And the world must act.