Phuket Marine Police step up human-trafficking raids on fishing boats

PHUKET: Marine Police searched six Phuket fishing boats today and checked the documentation of 155 crew in their efforts to stamp out human trafficking in the region.

The mass raid targeted vessels at the Tah Jeen Canal, near the fishing port area in Rassada, where Marine Police arrested two Myanmar nationals last night.

“We found no illegal workers today,” said Lt Col Panya Chaichana of the Phuket Marine Police. “But we arrested two men in the same area at about 9:45pm last night.”

The men, identified only as Mr Kai, 30, and Mr Mor, 24, will be charged with illegally entering the country and will be deported, Col Panya told the Phuket Gazette.

In Krabi, marine officials arrested 10 migrant workers yesterday found without any identification.

The workers were fined 2,000 baht each, and will also be deported, Maj Gen Rachen Suankhamsri of the Krabi Marine Police confirmed.

“We also conducted random drug tests of boat captains in Ao Nang who operate vessels that ferry tourists as passengers, but all of the skippers tested negative,” he said.

— Saroj Kueprasertkij