Highway police have arrested four Chinese men, suspected of having links to a scam network, on a long-distance southern bus route in Tha Sae district of Chumphon province.
The four Chinese men, between the ages of 18 and 36, were apprehended in front of Tha Sae highway police service unit in tambon Tha Kham of Tha Sae district in the early hours of Friday, police said.
The operation followed a tip-off from an informant, who reported that a group of Chinese men, believed to be connected to a scam network, was travelling by interprovincial bus to southern Thailand while disguising themselves as tourists in an attempt to evade authorities.
Highway police subsequently monitored routes in the area and identified a bus matching the informant's description as it passed the highway police service unit. The officers stopped the vehicle and conducted a detailed inspection of passengers.
During the search, the police team asked the four suspected Chinese passengers to show passports and documentation authorising their stay in Thailand.
However, all four were unable to produce any passports, visas or other immigration documents, prompting the officers to take them in for questioning.
During questioning, all four admitted they had entered Thailand illegally and possessed no valid immigration documents.
They were initially charged with entering and residing in Thailand without permission. The suspects were later handed over to Tha Sae police station for further legal proceedings.
