'Migrant smuggling suspect captured in Myanmar, identified as rebel figure'
In a significant operation, police in the district of Dan Makham Tia, Kanchanaburi, have arrested a 32-year-old man named Phuri Lertchaiprachim and detained 21 Myanmar nationals, accused of entering and staying in Thailand without permission.
The arrest was made on Saturday following a tip-off about a suspected migrant smuggling ring in tambon Klondo. Three pickup trucks, suspected of being used in the smuggling operation, were spotted during the raid. One of the trucks, an Isuzu D-Max, was intercepted during the operation.
Phuri Lertchaiprachim, who claimed to be a soldier with the Karen National Union, was charged with allegedly smuggling the 21 illegal migrants from Myanmar. According to his statement, he was hired on Facebook to pick up workers for 5,000 baht. However, the migrants traveling in the intercepted Isuzu D-Max each paid 20,000 baht to be smuggled into Samut Sakhon to work in factories.
The journey from Yangon in Myanmar to Thailand involved a crossing through Dawei. Unfortunately, the commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division who arrested Mr Phuri remains undisclosed.
Another driver, who was operating a Mitsubishi Triton, fled when officers approached. The driver of a Ford Ranger abandoned the vehicle, leaving 11 migrants inside. No further information was provided about the involvement of a third pickup truck or its driver.
The 21 detained migrants now face charges for entering and staying in the kingdom without permission. The incident underscores the ongoing issue of migrant smuggling in Thailand and the efforts being made by law enforcement to combat this illegal activity.
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