CIB Arrests Bus Driver Smuggling 16 Illegal Immigrants

Picture courtesy of CIB.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), in cooperation with the Highway Police Division, has arrested a bus driver and 16 foreign nationals entering Thailand illegally.

The suspects were detained on Highway 1 in Thanon Ngam subdistrict, Khlong Khlung district, Kamphaeng Phet province. The bus driver, Mr Charoen, 44, was charged with knowingly assisting illegal immigrants to evade arrest. Among the 16 foreign nationals found hidden inside the bus were 11 Myanmar nationals and 5 Chinese nationals.

Most of the migrants lacked valid identification or passports, except for five Chinese individuals whose permits to stay in Thailand had expired.

The operation followed a tip-off from passengers who reported suspicious behaviour when the bus made two unauthorised stops to pick up passengers, raising concerns of human smuggling.

Mr Charoen admitted to being hired by two separate groups, receiving a total payment of 22,000 baht to transport the migrants to Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok.

All suspects were taken into custody and charged accordingly before being handed over to the Khlong Khlung Police Station for further legal action.

This arrest was carried out under the direction of Pol Lt Gen Jiraphop Phuridech, Commissioner of the CIB, Pol Maj Gen Kongkrit Lertsittikul, Commander of the Highway Police Division, and Pol Col Satit Samanapap, Chief of Division 5, Highway Police.

  Adapted by Asean Now from CIB 2025-08-13