Blood Berries (2026)

For over three years, The Isaan Record traced the journeys of people from northeastern Thailand who left behind everything, dreaming of a better future as berry pickers in the forests of Finland and Sweden. Lured by promises that picking "wild berries" in these civilized nations would turn their lives around and wipe out their debts, they borrowed heavily to fund the trip—encouraged by labor officials and brokers. But the dream turned into a nightmare. Instead of fair wages, they were forced to work for nothing, trapped in a web of human trafficking. After three brutal months, many returned home empty-handed, drowning in debt they couldn’t repay. Reports now reveal over 4,000 victims have come forward, uniting to demand justice. As they wait for government action to untangle the debt crisis caused by these overseas schemes, a former minister implicated in trafficking and corruption continues to thrive.