CHIANG RAI – Immigration police have detained a 33-year-old Thai man and 2 Chinese nationals on the western bypass in Ban Du Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Rai Province, in an operation targeting foreign nationals committing offenses in Thailand.
The operation was conducted under the direction of Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumat Boonyaluck (Commissioner of Immigration Bureau), Pol. Maj. Gen. Phanthana Nuchanart (Deputy Commissioner of Immigration Bureau), Pol. Maj. Gen. Sarawut Khonyai (Commander of Immigration Division 5), and Pol. Col. Ekkarat Busababodin (Deputy Commander of Immigration Division 5).
They assigned Pol. Col. Surasak Thienthong (Superintendent of Chiang Rai Immigration), along with Pol. Lt. Col. Tulawat Narongsak and Pol. Lt. Col. Vichai Panna (Chiang Rai Immigration Investigation Officers), to investigate a human smuggling report.
An informant reported that a white sedan with Bangkok license plates was being used to transport illegal foreign nationals. At around 5:30 p.m., officers spotted a white Honda sedan with Bangkok plates matching the description. The driver was later identified as Mr. Chayutphong (alias), 33 years old. The arrest team signaled for the vehicle to stop for inspection.
During questioning, the driver admitted he had been hired to pick up two Chinese nationals in Bangkok and transport them to the Chiang Rai -Lao border for a payment of 5,000 baht. Officers checked the passengers seated in the back. They appeared to be Chinese nationals and could not speak Thai. When asked to present identification, neither of them had a passport or any document in place of a passport.
The officers then detained both men for further checks. They were identified as Mr. Jang (Zhang), 40 years old, Chinese national, and Mr. Yi (name obtained through an interpreter).
They told police they had worked at KK Park in Myanmar and fled after the Myanmar Junta forces raided their compound. They were making their way to Laos, where they were to be picked up by compatriots.
The Chiang Rai Immigration investigation team checked the Immigration Bureau database and found no record of their legal entry into Thailand. The arresting officers brought all three individuals to the Chiang Rai Immigration Office to record the arrest.
Based on the evidence and circumstances, Immigration officers charged the Chinese nationals with “being foreign nationals who entered and remained in the Kingdom without permission.”
Mr. Chayutphong (alias) was charged with “assisting, hiding, or helping in any way a foreign national who entered the country illegally to escape arrest.” Officers also informed him of his legal rights.
All arrested persons stated they understood the charges and their rights and confessed in full. Immigration officers then detained them, along with seizing the vehicle used in the offense, and sent them to Ban Du Police Station, Chiang Rai Province, for further legal action.
After that, the Chiang Rai Immigration suppression and investigation team continued handling the case and processed the individuals involved according to relevant procedures.
