Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

Police in Kanchanaburi were shocked to discover 108 undocumented Myanmar migrants packed tightly inside a six-wheeled truck on the night of 11 October 2025. The vehicle was intercepted by highway police and provincial officials on a road leading to Khao Meng Amonmae Temple in Pak Phraek subdistrict, Muang district, just before it reached the M81 motorway.

 

Upon inspection, officers found 70 men and 38 women crammed into the enclosed vehicle, with some standing and others sitting in severely cramped conditions. The driver, identified as Mr. Oat, a  Karen man from Moo 8, Ban Song Karia, Nong Lu subdistrict in Sangkhla Buri district, was immediately arrested at the scene. The discovery prompted concern among officials over the dangerous conditions faced by the migrants during the journey.

 

All 108 migrants were taken to the Kamnan-Village Headman Assembly Hall in central Kanchanaburi for questioning. Deputy Governor Wuttipong Suphakvanich personally led the interviews, assisted by translators to communicate with the detainees. Authorities confirmed that the group had entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar and were being transported to Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon provinces, where many planned to seek work. Some reportedly intended to continue on to Malaysia.

 

During questioning, the driver confessed that he had been paid 7,000 baht to move the migrants from Lin Thin subdistrict in Thong Pha Phum district to Ban Khao Meng. He also admitted this was his third time carrying out such an operation. The migrants said they crossed into Thailand near Ban Phra Chedi Sam Ong, Nong Lu subdistrict, avoiding checkpoints under cover of night. They then travelled by boat along the Song Kalia River through Vajiralongkorn Dam reservoir before disembarking at Ban Tha Phae pier in Tha Khanun subdistrict.

 

From there, smaller pickup trucks shuttled the group to the six-wheeler, which was later intercepted by police. Each migrant reportedly paid smugglers between 20,000 and 30,000 baht for the journey from Myanmar to central Thailand. Officials are now investigating the ownership of the truck and working to identify those behind the human smuggling network.

 

Police have transferred the driver and all detainees to Muang Kanchanaburi Police Station for further legal proceedings. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in controlling illegal border crossings and the exploitation of migrant workers in the region.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police intercepted a truck carrying 108 undocumented Myanmar migrants in Kanchanaburi.

• The driver admitted being paid 7,000 baht for the job and said it was his third smuggling run.

• Authorities are investigating the smuggling network responsible for organising the route.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-13

 

 

 

 

Thailand still in the thick of people smuggling...

On 10/13/2025 at 5:22 AM, Georgealbert said:

108 undocumented Myanmar migrants packed tightly inside a six-wheeled truck

 

I wonder what it smelt like inside?

“ Each migrant reportedly paid smugglers between 20,000 and 30,000 baht for the journey”.   Probably travel now pay later because that’s a lot of money to come up with when you’re looking for employment.   

8 minutes ago, Suetape said:

“ Each migrant reportedly paid smugglers between 20,000 and 30,000 baht for the journey”.   Probably travel now pay later because that’s a lot of money to come up with when you’re looking for employment.   

 

That's where the loan sharks enter the game

With the headlines that People from Myanmar were to be welcomed legally into the  Thai work force, why did they enter illegally ?  They could have applied for help at the borders. I don’t know how the government meant to go ahead with this, but it was a very good solution to the lack of workers. 
I hardly think that the Cambodian workers will be welcomed by the Thais any time soon. There’s too  much  hate on both sides.