Highway Police Intercept Myanmar Migrant Smuggling Convoy

Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

Highway Police carried out a dramatic late-night pursuit on 15 January 2026, intercepting a convoy accused of illegally transporting Myanmar migrant workers through the central region of Thailand. The operation resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects and the seizure of two pickup trucks fitted with counterfeit registration plates, preventing the group from reaching their intended destination.

The arrests were ordered by Pol Maj Gen Phornsak Laorujiralai, Commander of the Highway Police Division, and led by Col Thatch Pho Suwan, Superintendent of Highway Police Sub-Division 1, together with Lt Col Wachira Amarit, chief inspector of Highway Police Station 4. Two Myanmar nationals, Mr Anan, aged 54 and Mr Anupong, aged 37, were detained along with 15 other Myanmar migrant workers. The vehicles, both Toyota pickup trucks, were stopped on Highway 3004 at kilometre marker 58 in Khok Duea subdistrict, Phaisali district, Nakhon Sawan province.

Police said the operation followed intelligence from an informant warning of an organised attempt to smuggle undocumented migrant workers through the central provinces, with Nakhon Sawan identified as a key transit point. Officers coordinated roadblocks and patrols before spotting two Toyota Revo pickup trucks travelling together at high speed and attempting to evade inspection. Highway police pursued the vehicles closely and forced them to stop after a tense chase.

A detailed inspection revealed that both vehicles were displaying fake licence plates, bearing Bangkok registration numbers. The plates lacked official Department of Land Transport emblems and control serial numbers, confirming they were counterfeit. Further investigation found the group had prepared multiple fake plates to swap during the journey in order to avoid detection while moving deeper into the country.

During questioning, Mr Anupong and Mr Anan reportedly confessed to being hired to transport 15 Myanmar migrant workers from the Mae Sai border area in Chiang Rai province to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. They admitted to changing the registration plates to disguise the vehicles’ identities, but were ultimately intercepted by highway police. All suspects were taken into custody at the scene.

The two drivers were charged with knowingly harbouring or assisting foreign nationals who had entered the kingdom illegally, as well as forging and using official documents. The remaining 15 suspects were charged with entering and staying in the kingdom without permission. All were handed over to investigators at Phaisali Police Station for legal proceedings.

Thaitabloid reported that police said the case highlights ongoing efforts to disrupt migrant smuggling networks using forged documents and rapid transport routes. Authorities indicated that further investigations may follow to identify organisers and financiers behind the operation.

Key Takeaways

• Highway police arrested 17 suspects on 15 January 2026 during a late-night pursuit in Nakhon Sawan.

• Two pickup trucks with fake Bangkok licence plates were used to transport 15 Myanmar migrant workers.

• All suspects were charged and transferred to Phaisali Police Station for prosecution.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thaitabloid 2026-01-17