Police in western Thailand discover 19 Burmese migrants hidden in truck

Police in the western province of Kanchanaburi have found 19 Burmese migrants concealed in a small truck in the district of Thong Paphum. The discovery comes as officers are ordered to crack down on migrant workers crossing illegally into Thailand. Thai Residents reports that local police officers were acting on a tip-off that Burmese migrants were being smuggled across the border in the district of Sangkhla Buri. The tip-off contained information on the truck, including its colour and registration number.

Officers stopped the truck and arrested the 38 year old driver, Kriangsak Janya. Concealed in the back of the truck, officers found 11 men and 8 women, with Kriangsak admitting he had been hired to pick up the migrants and transport them to Thong Paphum, in exchange for 2,000 baht.

The suspect is now in custody, facing charges of facilitating illegal immigration, concealing illegal migrants and other related charges. Kriangsak was previously arrested in 2019, when he was detained in the Sai Yok district of Kanchanaburi, with 8 illegal migrants from Myanmar.

According to officials, illegal migrants frequently arrive in Thailand by crossing natural borders and the authorities say they’re doing their best to put a stop to the practice. The illegal crossings are of particular concern right now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the risk of undocumented imported infections.

The 19 Burmese nationals are being held at Thong Paphum station, awaiting deportation to Myanmar.

SOURCE: Thai Residents