In a significant operation on the Thai-Myanmar frontier, paramilitary forces halted a smuggling attempt involving eight Myanmar nationals concealed within vegetable crates. The interception, executed by the 35th Ranger Forces Regiment, took place at a checkpoint on the Mae Sot-Tha Song Yang road in Tak province, under the command of Colonel Ong-art Samphan. The operation was part of a broader strategy to combat illegal trafficking.
A Toyota pickup, with a license plate identifying it as from Nakhon Sawan, was stopped for inspection. The driver, a 56-year-old identified only as Jarun, and his 22-year-old nephew Anon, exhibited suspicious behavior, prompting a detailed search by the rangers. Hidden beneath a layer of tires, the vehicle's cargo of vegetable crates was found to contain six men and two women from Myanmar, who had crossed the border clandestinely and endured harsh conditions in hope of finding employment in Bangkok.
The detainees, along with the vehicle, were transferred to the Mae Ramat police station for further legal action. This incident underscores the challenges faced by authorities in curbing human trafficking along the border.
Source: thethaiger.com