Four Japanese nationals caught illegally crossing Thai-Myanmar border
In Tak province’s Mae Sot district, four Japanese nationals were apprehended after illegally crossing the Thailand-Myanmar border into Myawaddy, as reported by police yesterday, February 8.
These four men, arrested on February 7, were wanted in Japan for criminal and drug-related offences, according to Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, inspector-general of the Royal Thai Police.
To address international concerns, particularly from China, regarding criminal activities on the Myanmar border, police and local officials have intensified patrols along natural channels and crossings between Thailand and Myanmar.
The Japanese suspects travelled by van to Mae Sot, where they checked into a hotel on January 31. They checked out the following day, took a taxi to Rim Moei Market near the 1st Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, and mingled with tourists before vanishing.
At 11am the same day, police observed a Myanmar national crossing into Thailand from Myawaddy via the bridge. This individual collected the Japanese men’s luggage from the hotel and returned to Myanmar without clearing Thai customs.
It was determined that the Japanese men had illegally crossed the border and were likely involved in transnational crimes or a call centre scam aimed at Japanese citizens.
The Japanese Embassy was contacted and confirmed the men’s criminal records and multiple arrest warrants for drug-related offences in Japan. Upon their return to Thailand on February 7, they were promptly arrested, and their tourist visas were revoked, stated Pol Gen Thatchai, reported Bangkok Post.
The suspects are currently held at Mae Sot Immigration and are expected to be transferred to the Immigration Detention Centre in Soi Suan Phlu, Bangkok, for legal proceedings before their deportation to Japan.
In similar news, five Myanmar nationals were apprehended by the Ratchamanu Special Task Force for illegally crossing into Thailand near the Moei River on February 4.
The team, led by the Naresuan Mobile Unit, was patrolling the area of Don Chai village in Mae Tao subdistrict, Mae Sot district, Tak province, on February 4 at 1.30am, when they noticed suspicious movement in the grasslands by the river on the Thai side.
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