Authorities in Hat Yai rescued 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers on Wednesday, found locked in a house with no food or water for three days. The house, located near Thong Nimit gold shop, was serving as a temporary shelter for illegal migrants. Local residents alerted authorities after hearing cries from inside the building.
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Border Patrol Police, Immigration officers, and other local officials conducted the rescue operation. They accessed the house through the back entrance, as the front was securely locked. Inside, they discovered the men in a weakened state, all pleading for sustenance.
The migrants, who arrived by boat from Bangladesh to Phuket, paid brokers 96,000 baht each for their journey. They were marked with red strings and transported to Songkhla with the intention of crossing into Malaysia for work.
Pol Sub-Lt Sommart Kerdsaengsuriyong noted that the operation was initiated after receiving complaints from locals. "When we opened the door, it was heartbreaking. They are human beings like us," he stated. Authorities provided the migrants with food and water at the Thung Lung police station.
Currently, the rescued individuals are in the legal process, with future actions to be determined. Authorities are focusing on ensuring the well-being of the migrants and investigating the human trafficking network involved, reported Bangkok Post.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 18 Mar 2026