Kanchanaburi: Soldiers from the Lad Ya Task Force, Surasee Task Force, have intercepted illegal foreigners who have admitted to being in their own country without work.
According to Thai News Agency, Maj. Gen. Atsawut Panyarachun, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division and Commander of the Surasee Task Force, along with Mr. Athit Intra, Governor of Kanchanaburi Province, revealed that local intelligence operations had informed them of an impending illegal smuggling operation. Foreign workers were reportedly being smuggled from the border area of Kanchanaburi Province into the inner region.
In response, orders were issued to Col. Pansak Preawphanit, Commander of the 29th Infantry Regiment and Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, Surasee Force. He, along with Col. Piyanes Phattharasasawatwong, Deputy Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, coordinated with the 135th Border Patrol Police Company, Thong Pha Phum District Administration, and Thong Pha Phum Police Station to establish a checkpoint at the Thong Pha Phum Intersection Joint Checkpoint.
At 5:30 a.m., officers stationed at this checkpoint noticed two suspicious vehicles. Upon signaling them to stop for inspection, the drivers sped away. The officers pursued and found the vehicles, with license plates BW 9176 Kanchanaburi and 6Khor 5023 Bangkok, abandoned near the forest edge in Hin Laem Village, Village No. 5, Tha Khanun Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province.
A detailed investigation led to the discovery of 38 illegal Myanmar nationals, consisting of 25 men and 13 women. The officials detained all of them for questioning.
Through an interpreter, it was learned that the suspects had traveled from Yangon Province, Myanmar, into Sangkhlaburi District via natural routes. They bypassed a security checkpoint and were picked up by cars intending to transport them further into the region. All confessed their intention to illegally enter Thailand to seek employment due to unemployment in Myanmar. They were supposed to pay a broker 15,000 baht each upon reaching their destination but were apprehended by officials before completing their journey.
All suspects were taken into custody and transported to Thong Pha Phum Police Station for legal proceedings. Investigators are coordinating efforts to expand the investigation and apprehend any accomplices involved in the smuggling operation.