Kanchanaburi—
On March 20th, 2024, Thong Pha Phum police, Kanchanaburi immigration officers, and relevant agencies intercepted illegal foreign immigration smuggling to Thailand in Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi. As a result, 66 individuals were captured and four vehicles were confiscated.
According to the police report, the patrol officers were performing their duty in the assigned area as normal when four suspicious pickup trucks were detected and were asked for inspection. However, the four drivers zoomed off in an attempt to flee the inspection.
The officers then followed them to a rubber plantation in Thong Pha Phum and found the four pickup trucks parked. Upon a further investigation, 66 Myanmar nationals were discovered hiding inside the four vehicles. The drivers were able to flee the officer’s pursuit.
The illegal immigrant workers reportedly admitted that they crossed the Thai border illegally through a natural channel to seek jobs in central Thailand.
Initially, the police escorted them to the Thong Pha Phum inquiry police for further legal processing.
Due to a recent mandatory conscription policy in Myanmar, which is embroiled in conflicts between the military junta and multiple groups, many Myanmar citizens are attempting to flee to Thailand through both legal and illegal means as we reported here.
