Thai police crackdown on illegal immigration leads to 9532 arrests
Thailand’s national police chief has directed a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants, resulting in nearly 10,000 arrests. Notably in Surin, police discovered a building used for forging Chinese passports to evade immigration checks.
Speaking yesterday, February 26, Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, stated that under the policy of Police General Kittirat Phanphat, the national police chief, an operation was ordered by the Centre for Suppression of Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration.
Police General Thana Chuwong, deputy national police chief, led this effort from February 18 to February 24, focusing on arresting illegal immigrants and those involved in cross-border crime.
The operation resulted in 9,532 arrests across the country. Among these, 207 were apprehended under arrest warrants, 6,239 for illegal entry, 875 for overstaying visas, 120 had their permits revoked, 463 were working illegally, and 1,628 were detained for other offences.
Of the detainees, 564 were Thai nationals, 4,879 were from Myanmar, 1,699 from Laos, 1,376 from Cambodia, 103 from Vietnam, and 911 from other countries.
Significant arrests included a bust on a call centre gang found with hand grenades, over 1 kilogramme of ketamine, and other drugs. This was a joint operation by immigration police, central investigation police, and tourist police, leading to the arrest of four suspects, including Thai, Taiwanese, and Filipino nationals.
The Taiwanese suspect was found to have five arrest warrants issued against them in Taiwan. Two Filipinos believed to have been trafficked into working for the gang in Myanmar were also detained.
The arresting team collaborated with the Sing Buri province’s social development and human security office to assess potential human trafficking indicators under the National Referral Mechanism.
In another case, immigration police and Surin provincial police aided Chinese nationals in Mueang district, Surin province. Six people claimed they were brought from the border in a pickup truck by a trafficking syndicate.
When they had an opportunity, they fled from the vehicle. Further investigations led to the discovery of rented houses and commercial buildings in Surin province used for smuggling and forging Chinese passports.
Thirteen suspects were arrested, and legal proceedings were initiated against the entire syndicate, with investigations ongoing, reported KhaoSod.
The national police chief instructed the Centre for Suppression of Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration to continue strict enforcement, investigation, prevention, and prosecution of offenders, ensuring public order in line with government and Royal Thai Police policies.
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