12-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Three Thai men were apprehended on Thursday evening on charges of smuggling Myanmar refugees out of a temporary shelter. The arrests came after authorities discovered 10 illegal migrants, including five children, in their vehicles. The incident took place in Khun Yuam district, and the suspects were taken into custody by the police.
Acting on a tip-off, police and local authorities established a checkpoint on Highway 1337 in tambon Mae Kee. The information suggested that some Myanmar refugees had managed to escape from the shelter unnoticed. Two pick-up trucks with Chiang Mai license plates caught the attention of the authorities as they were traveling in tandem. Subsequently, both vehicles were stopped and subjected to a thorough search, revealing the presence of several passengers.
The three Thai individuals involved in the smuggling operation were identified as Anai (38 years old), Sangworn (21 years old), and Anurak (54 years old). They were the drivers of the two pick-up trucks. In addition to the drivers, there were six adults and four children, aged between 5 and 14, found in the vehicles. Although the passengers did not possess any official documents, they were able to communicate in the Thai language.
According to the refugees’ statements to the authorities, they had sought refuge at a camp in tambon Mae Ko after escaping from the conflict in Myanmar. Their intended destination was Mae La Noi district’s Mae Song Song, where their relatives resided.
During the investigation, Mr. Anai confessed that he had picked up the illegal migrants near the shelter and planned to drop them off near Ban Mae Kee. Upon reaching their destination, the migrants would contact their relatives, who would then arrange for their pickup. Mr. Anai further revealed that he had assisted Myanmar refugees in escaping from the shelter area on two previous occasions. The refugees had his contact number as he had previously delivered relief supplies to the center.
The police subsequently charged Mr. Anai and his two accomplices with aiding the illegal migrants in avoiding arrest. Authorities suspect that this operation may be part of a larger network involved in smuggling activities.
