Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) have foiled an alleged human trafficking operation, arresting eight foreign suspects and rescuing nine foreigners who were reportedly being transported to Myanmar to work for international scam syndicates.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team from the Highway Police Bureau (BKP) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Division intercepted a white Toyota van (Bangkok registration HM 6XC0) at a petrol station on Highway 1, kilometre marker 461+300, in the Thongtham sub-district.
The driver, Mr. Than Zaw, a Myanmar national, was arrested along with seven other foreign suspects: Mr. Kampere (Uganda), Mr. Odoh Destiny (Nigeria), Mr. Claude Munoh (Cameroon), Mr. Bui Quang (Vietnam), Mr. Chibundu Benard (Nigeria), Mr. Kingsly (Nigeria), and Mr. Valentine Edokpo (Nigeria).
Than Zaw faces charges of assisting illegal immigrants by helping them evade arrest. The other seven are charged with illegal entry and overstaying in Thailand.
Inside the van, officers found nine foreigners: four Nigerians, two Indians, one Cameroonian, one Ugandan, and one Vietnamese. Two had no documents, five had entered Thailand illegally through natural border crossings, and two had entered legally. All nine are believed to have been victims destined for scam compounds in Myanmar.
The operation stemmed from information provided by a former scam victim who had escaped a syndicate in Dubai five years earlier. The informant received a desperate message from the group saying they were being held in a van and were about to be sold to a Myanmar-based scam gang. Police immediately set up checkpoints and located the vehicle at the petrol station as described.
During questioning, Than Zaw reportedly confessed that he was contacted via the Telegram messaging app by a Myanmar financier. He was instructed to pick up foreigners in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district and at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then drive them to Tak province near the Myanmar border. He said he was paid 2,000 baht per person, totaling 18,000 baht for the trip, and that another vehicle acted as a scout.
The arrested foreigners told police they had entered Thailand from Cambodia on foot via natural trails and were being handed off between vehicles, with the seized van being the third in the chain.
The operation was carried out under the command of Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaownasai, Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Phonsak Laoruchiralai, Commander of the Highway Police Bureau, and Pol Col Sathit Samanphap, Superintendent of Division 5, Highway Police. The on-ground team was led by Pol Lt Col Phichaya Thawisri.
All suspects have been handed over to Thongtham Police Station for further legal proceedings.
The CIB described the successful interception as part of its ongoing efforts to combat transnational crime and protect potential victims of human trafficking and online scam operations.
Photos CIB
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
