Job Brokers, 30 Illegal Myanmar Workers Arrested By Thai Military

[george]

Soldiers nab job brokers, 30 illegal Myanmar workers

CHUMPHON: -- Thai soldiers arrested several Myanmar job brokers and 30 illegal Myanmar workers at a house in the southern province of Chumphon on Sunday.

A unit of 15 troops led by Maj Thanaphan Sukprasert raided a house in Tha Sae district in Chumphon on a tip that it accommodated illegal migrant workers en route to work in other areas.

They detained 16 male and 14 female workers. Two Myanmar nationals, identified only as Mr So and Ms. Sor, working as job brokers in a illegal labour gang were also arrested.

According to the initial investigation, some Thai officials, including a community leader and a local businessman were involved in the trafficking of illegal labourers.

The illegal workers entered Thailand at Ranong and moved to the safe house in Chumphom to await being sent to work in factories in Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, Surat Thani and Songkhla.

Each of them paid Bt5,000-7,000 to job brokers, depending on the distance of their trips and paid 500 baht at a police checkpoint. The military detained them questioning and making records before deporting the workers. Further investigation will be conducted to identify and arrest more Thais involved in the gang.

-- TNA 2010-01-10

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[slapout]

No reference to any Thai arrested in this operation and doubt if any will be. Money paid to police at checkpoints and job brokers but any potential witness (laborers) already deported. Guess the 2 Burmese brokers are the only link to the bottom/ top of this chain and they were released on bail just before the deportat transport left.

[Credo]

They paid 500 baht apiece to the police or they paid 500 baht total to the police?

Either way, no officials get into trouble, pretty sad really.