KHON KAEN: Twelve Vietnamese nationals, including a baby boy, were arrested for illegal entry and overstaying visas during a search of a Nong Khai-bound interprovincial bus in Muang district early Saturday morning.
Immigration and tourist police stopped for a search the bus, operating on Bangkok-Nong Khai route, at a checkpoint on Mittraphap Road at around 4am and found the illegal Vietnamese migrants sitting among other passengers.
The Vietnamese -- six men, three women, a teenage boy, a teenage girl and a one-year-old baby boy, were found to be illegal migrants. Ten of them were found to have overstayed their visas while two others entered the country illegally.
Twelve Vietnamese, including a baby boy, are found to have overstayed their visas and entered the country illegally. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)
Pol Lt Col Suchart Saengnin, Khon Kaen immigration chief inspector, said the suspects had bought tickets to go to Nong Khai.
Twelve Vietnamese, including a baby boy, are found to have overstayed their visas and entered the country illegally. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)
Police earlier received information that a group of illegal immigrants were taking public transportation from Bangkok to this northeastern province bordering Laos. This prompted authorities to set up the road checkpoint, said the immigration chief inspector.
They interrogated the bus driver, who insisted he did not know those illegal migrants as they had bought tickets legally like other passengers.
The suspects refused to give any statements during the police interrogation. They were held in police custody at Muang police station for legal action, said Pol Lt Col Suchart.