Authorities Intercept Pickup Truck Smuggling Illegal Migrants, Driver Flees Into Forest

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Authorities in Kanchanaburi intercepted a pickup truck carrying illegal Myanmar migrants in the early hours of 4 March, but the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the forest.

 

At approximately 03:00, Chakrit Tanpirun, District Chief of Thong Pha Phum, received intelligence regarding a smuggling operation transporting illegal migrants from Myanmar into Thailand. The group had reportedly travelled by boat from Sangkhla Buri District across the Vajiralongkorn Dam reservoir before disembarking in Thong Pha Phum, where vehicles were waiting to take them further inland.

 

In response, a task force comprising local officials, paramilitary forces from the Lat Ya Task Force of the Surasi Army, officers from Provincial Police Region 7, Thong Pha Phum Police Station, and Border Patrol Police Unit 135 was mobilised. They conducted patrols along key routes and forested areas near the dam’s shoreline.

 

The operation led to the interception of a suspicious grey Isuzu pickup truck travelling along the Thong Pha Phum–Huai Khayeng Road in Ban Tha Phae, Moo 1, Tha Khanun subdistrict. When officers signalled the vehicle to stop for inspection, the driver immediately abandoned the truck and fled into the forest under the cover of darkness. Despite efforts to pursue him, he evaded capture.

 

Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered 14 illegal migrants crammed inside, 12 men and 2 women. Some were concealed in the truck bed under a black tarpaulin.

 

The migrants admitted to entering Thailand illegally via natural border crossings from Payathonsu, Myanmar. They had boarded a boat in Sangkhla Buri before reaching Ban Tha Phae, where a pickup truck was waiting to transport them further inland. Each migrant had agreed to pay a Myanmar-based smuggler 20,000 baht, with payment due upon arrival at their final destination.

 

Following their confession, the migrants were taken into custody and transferred to Thong Pha Phum Police Station. They face charges under Thailand’s Immigration Act for “entering the kingdom illegally.”

 

Chakrit Tanpirun stated that Kanchanaburi Governor, Athisan Intara, had recently visited Thong Pha Phum to reinforce government policies aimed at cracking down on illegal activities, particularly drug and human trafficking. Local administration officials, military personnel, police, border patrol officers, and village leaders have been instructed to intensify surveillance and enforcement efforts in line with national security directives.

 

-- 2025-03-05

 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

They face charges under Thailand’s Immigration Act for “entering the kingdom illegally.”

The unfortunate Burmese have little choice.

With conscription in place, the military government has stopped all legal visa avenues for the Burmese to leave the country.

Then, Thailand's very poor record with the way that it treats refugees, illegal crossings are now the only option.