CHIANG RAI – Thai Immigration police in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, report they are seeing more Thai suspects attempting to cross into Myanmar to avoid arrest warrants. On Monday, officers at the Mae Sai checkpoint stopped three people in a single day.
Pol. Col. Surasak Thienthong, Superintendent of Chiang Rai Immigration, said they tried to leave Thailand, and on the same day, Myanmar authorities also sent back four Thai nationals tied to serious cases, including drug offenses and a murder case.
Pol. Col. Surasak, along with senior officers, ordered tighter monitoring at the Mae Sai border area. The focus was on foreigners and Thai nationals who may have outstanding warrants or appear on watchlists, especially those suspected of trying to slip out of the country.
Later, an immigration investigation team spotted three Thai individuals, one man and two others, acting suspiciously near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 1 in Mae Sai.
The group appeared to be preparing to cross into Tachileik, Myanmar. Officers brought them in for checks using Thai police database systems, including POLIS, CRIMES, and PDC. All three were found to have arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court.
1) Wuttipong, 35, from Surat Thani
Investigators identified the first suspect as Wuttipong, 35, from Mueang District, Surat Thani. He faces charges related to the sale of a Category 2 controlled substance (ketamine), with intent to distribute, plus conspiracy to commit a serious narcotics offense.
2) Thanaphat, 27
The second suspect, Thanaphat, 27, faces two charges. The case involves the alleged distribution of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine, or yaba) with intent to sell, along with conspiracy to commit a serious drug-related offense.
3) Kwanjit, 39, from Phuket
The third suspect is Kwanjit, 39, from Phuket. She faces charges connected to the alleged sale of a Category 2 controlled substance (ketamine) with intent to distribute, plus conspiracy related to a serious narcotics crime.
After the checks, officers detained the three suspects and handed them over to the appropriate narcotics suppression unit for legal action.
Meanwhile, Chiang Rai Immigration also received coordination from immigration authorities in Tachileik. They reported that several Thai nationals had completed legal proceedings in Myanmar and would be transferred back to Thailand.
Thai officers arranged to receive them at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 1 over the Sai River. Among those returned, four were linked to major cases.
Drug-Related Cases
- Phuwadon, 19, from Phetchabun: Accused of jointly distributing a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) with intent to sell, and conspiracy to commit a serious drug offense.
- Rachanont, 38, from Bangkok: Accused of jointly possessing a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) for commercial purposes.
Two men from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Kiertisak, 31, and Manit, face the same set of allegations. The charges include premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying firearms in public without permission, and firing a gun in a community area without cause.
In the end, Chiang Rai immigration officers took all seven individuals into custody. They were then transferred to investigators in the relevant jurisdictions to continue legal proceedings under Thai law.
Trending News:
Chiang Rai Immigration Arrests 11 Chinese Nationals for Illegal Entry
