KANCHANABURI: Ninety-six Rohingya were arrested late on Wednesday night in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district for illegally entering the country.
They will be deported unless they are found to be victims of human trafficking, according to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD).
They were caught when police responded to a tip-off about the smuggling of illegal migrant workers from Myanmar via Sangkhla Buri district. One of the arrest teams was deployed at a plantation in Muang district along the suspected route.
After spotting five pickup trucks travelling in a row on the plantation, authorities sealed off the area and stopped them for a search.
The driver of the lead vehicle, which carried no passengers, managed to flee, while 96 people — 76 men and 20 women — were found in the four other vehicles.
Police detained the drivers, all Thais. They were brought to Muang police station for questioning. The Rohingya were initially charged with illegal entry, while the Thais were charged with aiding and abetting smuggling.
Officials from the social welfare and human security office were invited to participate in the questioning in case the Rohingya were victims of a human trafficking ring.
The detainees said they had paid about 120,000 baht each to Myanmar brokers to get them to Malaysia.