Kanchanaburi: Soldiers, police, and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission join forces to arrest a gang smuggling 20 illegal Myanmar workers into Thailand. On August 16, 2015, Maj. Gen. Atsawut Panyarachun, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division and Commander of the Surasee Force, along with Mr. Athit Intra, Governor of Kanchanaburi Province, received a tip from local sources that there would be an illegal smuggling of foreign workers from the border area of Kanchanaburi Province into the inner region.
According to Thai News Agency, in response to the tip-off, Col. Pansak Preawphanit, Commander of the 29th Infantry Regiment and Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, Surasee Force, along with Col. Piyanes Phatthasasawatwong, Deputy Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, Surasee Force, led personnel from multiple police companies and district administrative organizations to establish checkpoints and conduct ambush patrols. Their aim was to intercept the illegal labor trafficking operation.
At 11:00 a.m., security officials set up a checkpoint at the Sai Yok Joint Checkpoint in Ban Phuong Ka, where they intercepted a pickup truck driven by Mr. Mintada, a 44-year-old Myanmar national. Upon inspection, they discovered 10 individuals inside the truck who could not produce government-issued identification documents. Mr. Mintada confessed to being hired for 15,000 baht to transport the group from Ban Tha Phae to work illegally in Thailand. The group was apprehended and taken to Sai Yok Police Station for legal proceedings.
A similar incident occurred the previous night in Ban Kring Krawea, where security forces observed another suspicious pickup truck. A group emerged from the forest, intending to board the vehicle. The driver, Mr. Somchai, a 26-year-old Myanmar national, admitted to being hired for 10,000 baht to transport 10 illegal aliens. They had traveled from Yangon Province, using natural routes to bypass security checkpoints. This group was also detained and taken to Thong Pha Phum Police Station for further legal action.