Police Pursue & Arrest Network for Smuggling Chinese Nationals into Thailand

[Georgealbert]

 

 

Law enforcement officers from the Chiang Rai Immigration Investigation Division, alongside tourist police and other related agencies on November6, pursued and arrested Thiwakorn “Joke” Srisarun, a key member of a network involved in smuggling Chinese nationals into Thailand. The arrest took place on Highway 131, near Chiang Rai’s Eastern Bypass to Mae Fah Luang International Airport.

 

The pursuit follows an arrest warrant issued by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court on October 28, 2024. Thiwakorn was charged under warrant no. J.481/2567 with assisting, hiding, or otherwise helping undocumented foreign nationals avoid arrest.

 

The investigation began on August 21, 2024, when Chiang Rai immigration officers, Border Patrol Police (BPP) 32, and other agencies intercepted two vehicles on Phahonyothin Road in Phan District. The vehicles carried Suradech Tekum, 31, and two associates, along with nine Chinese nationals, including 26-year-old Mr. Xu Teng Feng. Charges were brought against Suradech and his associates for aiding and abetting illegal entry. The Chinese nationals were charged with entering the kingdom without proper authorization. During the arrests, authorities also seized 215 foreign-used mobile phones, computers, multiple SIM cards, and various currencies, suspecting these items were used in scams or call center operations.

 

Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Nopparat “Noeng” Tekum, Suradech’s older brother, on similar charges. The Tekum network was found to facilitate passage for Chinese nationals from Laos to Thailand via Chiang Saen and from Myanmar via Tak. It was also discovered that Thiwakorn frequently booked hotel rooms in Chiang Rai for Chinese nationals, with records showing over 53 bookings totaling 167 rooms between July and September 5, 2024. Surveillance footage confirmed the presence of these nationals in rooms booked under Thiwakorn’s name.

 

On September 20, the same investigative team arrested Sodayu and two others in Chiang Rai while they were escorting 25-year-old Mr. Long Lin Jun from Tak to Chiang Saen. This arrest provided further evidence linking Thiwakorn to the network, leading to charges at Phan Police Station and eventually his arrest today.

 

Thiwakorn has since confessed to all charges, and the case continues as authorities investigate the full scope of the network’s operations.

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

-- 2024-11-07