84 Myanmar immigrants arrested in Thailand after jungle trek
In the early hours of yesterday, police in Kanchanaburi successfully apprehended a group of 84 individuals from Myanmar’s Rakhine State who had entered Thailand illegally.
The operation, carried out by Thong Pha Phum police and other relevant agencies, unfolded after a tip-off led them to a suspicious scene involving an abandoned pickup truck with obscured license plates.
The truck, which was blocking a road, contained several bags presumed to belong to the immigrants.
Upon further investigation, the police combed the nearby forest and uncovered the group of immigrants, consisting of both men and women, attempting to hide. None of them possessed any identification documents or knowledge of the Thai language, making communication a challenge for the police.
The immigrants shared their arduous journey, explaining they had crossed the Myanmar-Thailand border and trekked through dense jungle terrain to reach a river port in Sangkhla Buri.
From there, they boarded a boat that transported them to the pickup point where they were eventually discovered.
Each individual reportedly paid a sum of 75,000 baht (US$2,220) to human traffickers for their passage. Their ultimate goal was to travel through Thailand to reach Malaysia, where they sought employment opportunities.
In a significant development, the driver of the abandoned pickup truck was also arrested and identified as one of the smugglers involved in this trafficking operation.
The vehicle has been confiscated as part of the ongoing investigation, reported The Pattaya News.
All the individuals apprehended have been transferred to local police custody for questioning. Legal proceedings are expected to follow as police continue their efforts to address illegal immigration and human trafficking in the region.
In related news, police conducted a dramatic roadside chase in Kanchanaburi, capturing a Thai driver transporting 18 illegal migrants in a single vehicle. The 29 year old driver was apprehended after attempting to evade police.
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