CHAI NAT — Two Thai men were arrested as they attempted to allegedly smuggle 68 illegal Myanmar migrant workers into the country on Monday.
The suspects - Somnuak Thamrongsak, 48, from Nonthaburi, and Preecha Singyoo, 50, from Nakhon Sawan - were apprehended while transporting the migrants on two vans near Luang Por O intersection in Manorom district.
The 68 migrants - who included 15 women and 23 children - were also detained after their vehicles driven by Mr Somnuak and Mr Preecha were pulled over at a police checkpoint, said Pol Lt Col Udom Ninpot, a duty officer at Manorom police satiation.
Pol Lt Col Udom said his team received a tip from Crime Suppression Division officials that this route would be used by suspected traffickers of migrants from Mae Sot in Tak province.
The suspects reportedly confessed that they were paid by an unidentified businessman in Bangkok 3,000 baht per head to take the Myanmar nationals to the capital. They said they did not know other details.
Pol Lt Col Udom said an initial inquiry found some of the migrants apprehended had illegally entered Thailand to work previously. Police are investigating to identify the businessman who hired the suspects and other people involved, he added.