Two Thai Drivers Charged With Trafficking '400' Rohingya
By Khaosod English


Police intercepted 98 Rohingya, many of whom were children, crammed into the back of several pickup trucks in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — Two Thai men have been arrested for allegedly trafficking nearly 400 Rohingya into southern Thailand.

Police charged Sawasdi Phadungchart, 27, and Sutthipong Chuaipattana, 49, with human trafficking after the pair was intercepted in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province with 98 Rohingya, many of whom were children, crammed into the back of several pickup trucks.

Three other Thais suspected of participating in the operation managed to flee before police could detain them.

Police say they believe the two men in custody have facilitated the smuggling of “nearly 400” Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from western Myanmar, into Thai territories.

If found guilty, the suspects could face up to 15 years in prison.

"We have found evidence implicating major businessmen behind this operation, and we also discovered that nearly 400 Rohingya were being trafficked by these smugglers," said Pol.Maj.Gen. Somchai Uamthanorm, deputy commander of 8th Region Police. "Ninety-eight of them were [intercepted] at Hua Sai, but the rest already slipped to Songkhla province."

Officers from the Division of Special Investigation (DSI) arrived in Nakhon Si Thammarat province yesterday to assist with the investigation.

A DSI agent told reporters he believes "at least two businessmen" were involved in the trafficking of these Rohingya. He added that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is already trying to trace the money trail of the suspected ringleaders.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421217262


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-14

"A DSI agent told reporters he believes "at least two businessmen" were involved in the trafficking of these Rohingya."

This is something new to me......they started calling the high police officials......businessmen.......

Next is to hear the army officials called......entrepreneurs....

What happened to the Olympic relay team that ran away?

"....with 98 Rohingya, many of whom were children, crammed into the back of several pickup trucks."

Several: More than two, but not many. Can we say 5? That's roughly 20 per pickup truck plus the drivers and guards.

I believe the rules for transporting hogs in Thailand are more stringent than the way these traffickers treat these subhumans as cargo. But then again, that's all they are, commodities.

No doubt if this true, the drivers will go to the lock-up........but...what about the big men behind this........this is the stuff the US wants to see progress all the way..........let's see what happens......but we have our thoughts that the usual will prevail.

No doubt if this true, the drivers will go to the lock-up........but...what about the big men behind this........this is the stuff the US wants to see progress all the way..........let's see what happens......but we have our thoughts that the usual will prevail.

Wouldn't it be great to see some hi so who is involved in this being led away in handcuffs & leg irons.

Yep...them pesky drivers are the ones!

No hi- up men behind them!

They just went to...ahm..Myanmar...had some Rohinga hop on their truck ...and that was that!

Make more room in the inactive post building. Surely there is more than a few policemen involved in this ring.

No doubt if this true, the drivers will go to the lock-up........but...what about the big men behind this........this is the stuff the US wants to see progress all the way..........let's see what happens......but we have our thoughts that the usual will prevail.

Wouldn't it be great to see some hi so who is involved in this being led away in handcuffs & leg irons.

As long the the profits are passed up the food chain, that will sadly never happen!!

People making money on others desperation and misery are the lowest of the low!!

Disgusting

And to think Thailand is complaining about their record.

I don't think there is anything these guys would stoop to.

As I mentioned before its all about the money.

Let's hope the US doesn't take this window dressing as a sign to remove Thailand from tier 3.

Many for arrests and jail time and further up the food chain.

Tier 4 will be invented just for Thailand.

We've seen this played out before.

As part of the investigation and arrests, the police take the Rohingya into custod , many of whom were children. For a month or two the investigation will stall, the Rohingya's live in squalor, then they collectively and mysteriously disappear in a single night. Charges are dropped due to insufficient evidence - lack of witnesses.

No doubt if this true, the drivers will go to the lock-up........but...what about the big men behind this........this is the stuff the US wants to see progress all the way..........let's see what happens......but we have our thoughts that the usual will prevail.

The US wants????? Regarding human rights???? That would be hilarious if it wasn't so preverted... How about the US explaining why they have such a large % of their population in Prison & for what??? {none of the Banksters are in prison altho they should be first stripped of their ill gotten wealth then jailed} ( until I see evidence to the contrary they are in prison so the rich people that run the prison sector of the economy can rake in more profits ). Human rights ???? Oh you mean the right of Huge corporations to patent seeds for food that can survive chemical poisoning, followed up by chemically poisoning the soil & waterways killing off foods that the huge corporations don't have patents on. so that they will own the food supply. And exporting this Evil monopolistic system outside their own borders. The u.s. should clean up their own house before they start telling other countries what to do & how to do it,,On the upside. I do prefer Timberwolf bandsaw blades from the u.s. over the blades from either of the 2 Chinas...

How is it that they can name these two lowly drivers but no names on the 12 government officials arrested. Does the government have some serious face losing issues?