The history-steeped region of Ayutthaya is now under the scanner for a surprising reason. A 16-year-old local boy was snagged amidst an illegal migrant worker smuggling operation, using a misappropriated vehicle to conduct the illicit act. The highway police’s keen observation skills spotted the oddity in the overloaded, grey Isuzu MU-X vehicle, bearing the number plates from Phitsanulok, which led to the bust.
The teenager found himself thrust into the eye of the brewing storm when he endeavored to outmaneuver the police. The officers, suspecting the overly laden vehicle, flagged it down using customary signals of flashing red lights, sirens, and intercom instructions. Despite his frantic attempts to avoid the impending halt, the youngster’s efforts were in vain as the officials brought his journey to a standstill.
The ensuing vehicle inspection led to a startling revelation: fourteen Burmese men and women, clearly migrant workers, were being ferried in the vehicle, driven by the lad. A comprehensive examination of the occupants yielded no sign of valid documents, passports, or necessary permissions required for entry into Thailand’s sovereign grounds. The workers confessed to crossing the Moei River gainsay to the law, facilitated by an interpreter during the investigations.
The group divulged that they were brought from Mae Sot district in Tak province under the supervision of Burmese brokers to reach their workplaces in Thailand, with a lofty sum of 30,000 baht (US$858). The alarming information was confirmed by KhaoSod’s report.
The adolescent driver, hailing from Wang Chao district in Tak province, acknowledged his role in the impropriety. This was his debut illicit assignment that promised a payment of 15,000 baht. The opportunity was presented through a phone call that offered him a prospect to earn by transporting the migrant workers to Ayutthaya province. To accomplish the task, he made off with his father’s vehicle and embarked on the journey from Tak province, relying on the GPS route received from an anonymous person. His mission to transport the workers from Nakhon Sawan province to a non-disclosed location in Ayutthaya province was thwarted midway by the timely intervention of the police.
The young driver now faces multiple allegations, including abetting illegal entry of foreigners into Thailand, endangering public safety with reckless driving, and breaching the Motor Vehicle Act considering he was operating the vehicle without a valid license. Meanwhile, the smuggled workers were reprimanded for their unlawful entry and stay in Thailand. They are currently under the custody of the Bang Pa-In Police Station, awaiting further legal processes.
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