Myanmar man implicates a former headman for abetting his human smuggling racket

[webfact]

Myanmar man implicates a former headman for abetting his human smuggling racket

KANCHANABURI: -- A Myanmar man who was caught while attempting to smuggle seven migrant workers from Myanmar into Thailand claimed he paid 1,200 baht per head to Mon motorcyclists and a former assistant village head for their help in human trafficking.

Mr Win, 35, was caught at a border checkpoint in Ban Pu Namron in Muang district of Kanchanaburi on Sunday with seven illegal migrants from Myanmar in his Honda CRV sports utility vehicle.

The alleged human trafficker told police investigators he would first apply for border passes at a temporary immigration police office at Tambon Ban Thiti in Kanchanaburi for the Myanmar migrants who all have Myanmar ID cards.

Then, he would hire Mon motorcyclists at Ban Hongsavadi in Tambon Ban Gao to take the migrants to a rendezvous in Tambon Ban Gao where he would pick them up and drive them in his Honda to Suphan Buri.

Win claimed he paid each of the Mon motorcyclists 1,200 baht and they would eventually pay a former assistant village head in village No 12 200 baht for each of the migrants.

After the confession from Win, local authorities approached Mon leaders in Ban Hongsavadi to summon the suspected motorcyclists for interrogation.

It was reported that the cyclists admitted they were paid by Mr Win for their help to smuggle the Myanmar migrants into Thai territory. They also admitted they paid the ex-headman to facilitate the border crossing.

Local authorities said they would summon the ex-village chief for questioning.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/myanmar-man-implicates-a-former-headman-for-abetting-his-human-smuggling-racket


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-09

[ratcatcher]

"Win claimed he paid each of the Mon motorcyclists 1,200 baht and they would eventually pay a former assistant village head in village No 12 200 baht for each of the migrants."

A Win win situation.

[thesetat2013]

If these Burmy got into Thailand at an immigration checkpoint and were issued an entry visa using their ID then this is not a case of human smuggling. Paying for transportation is not illegal as far as I know and since these Burmy got into Thailand legally who is to say they are being smuggled? Many Burmy walk across the border on temp visa using their ID to work. Are all of them now considered being trafficked? This is getting out of hand

[clockman]

Very strange police methods in Thailand! They summon people. Which gives them plenty of time to runaway

[Robby nz]

Someone must have paid this gent so that he could pay the headman and the PSTD's, might be a good idea to ask him who that was and why.