Hat Yai:Songkhla: A joint operation by the Songkhla Immigration Police and Tourist Police led to the arrest of individuals involved in smuggling illegal immigrants into Malaysia.
According to Thai News Agency, the authorities pursued a convoy of vehicles for over 40 kilometers that was transporting illegal immigrants. The operation culminated in the arrest of three Thai nationals and one Chinese national. The Thai suspects were involved in transporting and escorting the Chinese individual, who was being smuggled for a fee of 10,000 baht.
The chase began on Asian Highway 2 and continued towards the Hat Yai district, where police intercepted the second vehicle on Lopburi Ramesuan Road in Khlong Hae subdistrict. The driver, Ms. Aiyatiya, and the passenger, Ms. Lalita, both 35, admitted to transporting Mr. Yang, a 41-year-old undocumented Chinese national, to a resort in Hat Yai.
A sting operation subsequently led to the apprehension of the lead vehicle at a nearby gas station. Mr. Songkran, 29, was found waiting in a white Honda car and was arrested. All three Thais were charged with jointly harboring and assisting illegal immigrants. The Chinese national, who entered Thailand illegally from Cambodia and planned to work in Malaysia, was charged with residing illegally in the Kingdom.
The suspects confessed to the charges and were handed over to the Hat Yai Police Station for further legal proceedings, along with the seized evidence.