Picture courtesy of Matichon

Four Thai women have been fined after illegally crossing into Myanmar to work as entertainers, despite initially claiming they had been deceived and held for ransom. Authorities in Tak province concluded the group travelled voluntarily and did not qualify as victims of human trafficking. The case was finalised on 13 February.

Get today's headlines by email

The women were presented to the media at a meeting room on the second floor of Mae Sot Police Station in Mae Sot district, Tak province. Present were Pradeem Dechayontbancha, Deputy Governor of Tak; Pol Maj Gen Paisan Nanta, Commander of Tak Provincial Police; Col Khanokkan Saengson of the Ratchamanu Task Force; and Kantpong Pipattanamontrikul, Chief District Officer of Mae Sot, alongside representatives from Border Patrol Police Company 346 and the provincial Social Development and Human Security Office.

According to officials, the four women travelled in January 2026 to Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy district, Kayin State, Myanmar, opposite Ban Wang Kaew in Mae Pa subdistrict, Mae Sot. They said they had been contacted via Line by a Chinese national who persuaded them to work in entertainment, promising particularly high earnings during the Chinese New Year period.

After crossing the natural border route, they reported that no work was available due to a crackdown on illegal activities in Myanmar. They claimed they were moved to another location, detained and unable to return home, with a ransom of 300,000 baht each allegedly demanded for their release.

The women sought assistance through media outlets and civil society networks supporting trafficking victims, with appeals reportedly reaching Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Thai police and military personnel later coordinated their extraction from an area controlled by ethnic minority groups, bringing them back across a natural crossing point.

Deputy Governor Pradeem said the Border Command Centre, chaired by Tak Governor Chusak Ruying, coordinated the rescue. Pol Maj Gen Paisan added that authorities have previously assisted foreign nationals returning from Myanmar and warned that ongoing fighting across the border makes the area dangerous.

After questioning, officials determined the women had travelled voluntarily and did not meet the criteria for trafficking victims. They were charged with illegally leaving the Kingdom without using an authorised checkpoint, fined under the law, and released.

Matichon reported that the women acknowledged they had chosen to travel because of the high wages offered and warned others not to cross into Myawaddy, describing it as extremely dangerous. They thanked officials for acting fast after their request for help.

Key Takeaways

• Four Thai women were fined for illegally crossing into Myanmar in January 2026 to work as entertainers.

• Authorities ruled they were not trafficking victims as they had travelled voluntarily.

• Officials warned the public not to cross into Myanmar due to ongoing fighting and security risks.

Join the discussion?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now Matichon 14 Feb 2026

Entertainers yea i believe that