Thai authorities have arrested 17 Myanmar nationals, including a one-year-old child, for illegal border crossing in Kanchanaburi Province on March 21. The incident occurred at approximately 00:30 hours when Thai authorities attempted to stop a suspicious pickup truck for inspection in Kanchanaburi Province. However, the vehicle refused to stop and fled from the checkpoint, prompting authorities to pursue it. The pickup truck eventually entered a forested area in Sanchaburi, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot.
Upon inspecting the abandoned vehicle, Thai authorities discovered and apprehended 17 Myanmar nationals, including men, women, and children. Among those arrested were six children, with the youngest being just one year old. The authorities confirmed that all individuals were attempting to enter Thailand illegally. During questioning, the detained Myanmar nationals admitted to their unauthorized entry into Thailand and revealed that they had each paid 10,000 Thai Baht to human traffickers who facilitated their border crossing.
All arrested individuals have been taken to the Sanchaburi Police Station, where they face charges related to illegal border crossing. Thai authorities are continuing their investigation to locate and apprehend the escaped driver and the human trafficking network responsible for organizing the illegal border crossing. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal migration and human trafficking along the Thai-Myanmar border, where many Myanmar nationals attempt to enter Thailand in search of better economic opportunities, often risking their safety and legal status by relying on trafficking networks.
