A Chinese national wanted by Taiwanese authorities has been arrested in Surat Thani after highway police stopped a slow-moving SUV on Highway 41. The man, identified as Mr Liao, 34, was travelling in Thailand without permission after crossing from Cambodia through a natural border route. His Thai driver, Chaiyut, 48, was also arrested for allegedly helping him evade immigration enforcement. The Central Investigation Bureau's Highway Police Division said the arrests followed a stop on the southbound side of Highway 41, also known as the Asian Highway, in Moo 3, Tha Chang district, Surat Thani. Police said the Toyota Fortuner was being driven slowly in the right-hand lane, obstructing traffic, when officers signalled for it to pull over on 28 July 2026. Passenger said he crossed from Cambodia Officers identified Chaiyut as the driver and Mr Liao as the passenger. When asked for travel documents, Mr Liao was unable to show permission to remain in Thailand, police said. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Liao reportedly told police that he had entered Thailand about two years earlier, later worked in Cambodia, and had returned to Thailand four or five days before his arrest. He allegedly said he crossed the border through a natural route, rather than an official immigration checkpoint, and had hired someone to take him to a southern province. From there, he intended to continue to a third country to seek work, according to police. Mr Liao was charged with entering the Kingdom without permission. Police seized the Toyota Fortuner and an iPhone during the operation. Driver admits accepting 18,000 baht job Chaiyut allegedly admitted that a person known as "Sia J" had offered him 18,000 baht to collect Mr Liao from a market in a central province and drive him to a southern border province. Pictures courtesy of Amarin He told police he knew the passenger was a foreigner without valid documents and had previously taken on one similar job, officers said. Chaiyut was charged with concealing, assisting or otherwise helping a foreigner who entered Thailand unlawfully to avoid arrest. Both men were handed to investigators at Tha Chang Police Station for legal proceedings. Taiwan seeks further action After contacting Taiwanese officials, Thai police said Mr Liao had a criminal record and was wanted under a Taiwanese arrest warrant. Once Thai legal procedures are complete, authorities said international procedures would be followed to send him to Taiwan for further prosecution. AQNCqt3X3g814uJPsB4UOA8-Z7pE6XSVXOg1UEUe4KF_ZoUYr6I28clJzsah2om5fKDsBiUl7newMH_FjZBeh1P9Wp7R34RAbHFWUDDiiQ.mp4 Join the discussion? 31 July 2026
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