Police Catch 26 Migrants Hidden in Corn Truck in Mae Sot

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A police crackdown in Tak province today, January 30, led to the arrest of 26 illegal immigrants hidden in a corn truck in the Mae Sot district. The joint operation involved the Ratchamanu Task Force, local police, and district officials.

The incident took place at 11 pm at a checkpoint in Ban Huai Fon. Officers stopped a corn-loaded truck, registration 70-5887 Kamphaeng Phet, covered with a tarp. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Nichaphon, acted suspiciously, raising the officers' concerns.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered the foreign workers concealed among the corn. The immigrants had crossed the border on foot, avoiding patrols, and were picked up by a Thai middleman aiming to transport them to Bangkok for employment.

Both the driver and the immigrants were handed over to Mae Sot Police for legal action and repatriation.

In another incident, in Chana district, Songkhla, police arrested 10 illegal migrants from Myanmar and two Thai drivers, attempting to travel to Malaysia. These arrests occurred on January 25 near tambon Taling Chan and involved a Honda sedan and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

Following a tip-off, the immigration and highway police arrested 44-year-old Donjaras Marnbao and 30-year-old Nurhasan Dee-mae. Donjaras drove the Honda as a lookout, while Nurhasan's Pajero carried the migrants. All were taken into police custody for further investigation.