BURIRAM, Thailand — Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Highway Police Division have arrested two Thai men and six Chinese nationals in a crackdown on an illegal migrant smuggling operation in northeastern Thailand.
The arrests occurred at the Wat Khun Kong intersection on Highway 24 (kilometer markers 123-124) in Tambon Nang Rong.
Police identified the Thai suspects as Mr. Sutee, 51, and Mr. Adun, 46. The six Chinese nationals arrested were Mr. Hujia Ming, Mr. Bai Junchao, Mr. Yu Shunhe, Mr. Xie Feng, Mr. Yin Fa Hong, and Mr. Yu Zhao.
The two Thai drivers face charges of knowingly harboring and assisting foreigners who entered the Kingdom illegally, while the Chinese nationals are charged with entering and remaining in Thailand without permission and overstaying their permitted period.
Highway police had been intensifying surveillance along routes used by smuggling networks bringing illegal migrant workers into the lower northeastern region. Intelligence indicated a group would be transported through Ubon Ratchathani province along Highway 24.
Officers spotted two Toyota sedans, one grey and one white, heavily loaded with passengers who appeared to be foreigners. Both vehicles were signaled to stop for inspection.
Upon checking, officers found the two Thai men driving and six Chinese passengers inside. All individuals were taken into custody along with the vehicles for further document verification. They were later transferred to Nang Rong Police Station in Buriram for legal proceedings.
Both Thai suspects reportedly confessed during initial questioning. They admitted they had been hired to pick up the six Chinese nationals who had illegally crossed the Mekong River by long-tail boat into Ubon Ratchathani province near the Thai-Lao border. Their task was to drive the group to a handover point in Rangsit, Pathum Thani province.
Each trip paid 8,000 baht. The men reportedly admitted to completing similar smuggling runs seven or eight times previously.
The arrests show ongoing efforts by Thai authorities to dismantle organized networks smuggling foreign workers into the country, particularly through porous border areas along the Mekong River.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
