Immigration police raided shelters in Bangkok's Nong Chok district on Thursday night and arrested a total of 89 illegal migrants mostly from Cambodia, said newly appointed Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang.
The raid came after immigration police led by Pol Maj Gen Atchayon Kraithong, chief of immigration division 3, apprehended four Thai men and a Cambodian national earlier on Thursday night as they were looking into a tip-off about the smuggling of illegal migrants in Soi Mitmaitree of Nong Chok district.
The suspects were identified as Kanthaphon Ekariyaworawat, 45; Sunthorn Sumethanonchai, 43; Euakarn Sawatcharoen, 27; and Wirat Charungphan, 44; and a Cambodian national identified only as Ouan-ie, 24.
Shortly afterwards, 88 illegal migrant workers were caught sheltering in a building on the same street. Seized in the raid were a six-wheel truck, a pickup truck, 11 motorcycles, a 9mm pistol and 27 rounds.
Pol Lt Gen Sompong said immigration police had been keeping a close watch on the neighbourhood following a tip-off that illegal migrant workers would be smuggled through the area. They spotted the six-wheel truck and pick-up truck entering the area and proceeded to search them.
Mr Kanthaphon, the driver of the six-wheel truck, was found in possession of the pistol and ammunition. He was charged with illegally possessing and carrying a firearm and assisting illegal migrant workers to avoid arrest.
The three other Thai suspects were also charged with the latter offence. The Cambodian arrested with them was charged with illegal entry, as were the other 88 who were detained after the raid at the shelter.
Pol Maj Gen Atchayon said initial questioning showed that the illegal migrants had paid 2,500 baht each to job brokers.
He said illegal workers would sneak into Thailand across a natural border pass where a truck would pick them up and take them to the outskirts of Bangkok.
He said the Thai suspects claimed they had made down payments of 3,000 baht on each of the 11 motorcycles and later notified insurance agents that they had been stolen.
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