12-3-2025 (BANGKOK) In a significant operation on the outskirts of Bangkok, highway patrol officers have uncovered a sophisticated people-smuggling network, leading to multiple arrests and the rescue of several Chinese nationals.
The breakthrough came when officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted two vehicles during a coordinated operation spearheaded by Police Colonel Kongkrit Lertsitthikun of the Highway Police Bureau. The primary suspect, 31-year-old Chittikorn, was apprehended whilst allegedly transporting seven Chinese nationals, five of whom were found to be in Thailand without proper documentation.
During subsequent questioning, Chittikorn revealed his role as a hired courier, admitting to receiving 6,500 baht for transporting individuals from the Thai-Myanmar border province of Tak to Thailand’s capital. The suspect acknowledged his awareness of the passengers’ illegal status.
Through an interpreter, the five undocumented individuals disclosed their clandestine entry into Thailand via unofficial crossing points near Mae Sot, a known trafficking hotspot along the Myanmar border. Their ultimate destination was Bangkok, where they had hoped to secure employment.
The operation, directed by senior highway police officials including Police Colonel That Phothisuwan and Lieutenant Colonel Suphakorn Tangkaprasit, marks a significant victory in Thailand’s ongoing battle against human trafficking networks.
The suspects have been transferred to the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division 3 for further legal proceedings, whilst the two Chinese nationals with valid documentation have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
