High-Speed Chase in Thailand Nabs 32 Illegal Myanmar Workers

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

In a dramatic high-speed chase near Kanchanaburi, Thai police apprehended 32 Myanmar nationals believed to be smuggled across the border illegally. The rogue driver of the pickup truck managed to escape, abandoning the grey Isuzu D-Max with the registration plate บบ 6998 at their tail.

Major General Khongkrit Lertsitthikul of the Highway Police, along with Colonel Pakhapol Suchon, received a report about the speeding pickup on Highway 323. Officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Amnat Seenual, attempted to halt the truck using loudspeakers, but the driver refused to stop and accelerated instead.

The incident prompted a coordinated effort among law enforcement, including the Anti-Human Trafficking Division and Immigration Bureau. The chase ended near Wang Sing Railway Station, where the driver ditched the truck and disappeared into the brush.

Inside the vehicle, police found 32 Myanmar nationals. These individuals were reportedly linked under a system of colored strings tied to their wrists, dictating their work destinations. For example, those bound for Koh Samui wore yellow strings.

The migrants had entered Thailand via forest paths from Myanmar's Payathonsu area to avoid border checkpoints. They intended to reach several provinces for work, each having paid brokers anywhere from 11,500 to 40,000 baht.

The apprehended individuals were taken for questioning at the Sai Yok Highway Police Service Centre. They have since been transferred to the Sai Yok Police Station to face charges for illegal entry under the Immigration Act.

This bust highlights ongoing challenges in combating human trafficking and unauthorized migration in the region. Police efforts continue as they search for the driver and any accomplices involved, reported The Thaiger.