Thai cops save 49 being trafficked to Malaysia

SONGKHLA, 9 July 2019: 

Thailand police saved 49 victims of human trafficking, including a four-year-old, in Songkhla – believed to be smuggled into Malaysia.

Child Protection, Women, Family and Human Trafficking Centre director general Sucheras Theerasawat said the police managed to rescue eight Myanmar nationals in a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Rattanaphum District, Songkhla at about 6am (local time) yesterday.

He said all the victims were hidden in the back of the MPV, believed to be smuggled into Malaysia.

“Police arrested another two locals including a woman, who was the driver of the MPV.

“They admitted to have sent Myanmar nationals to Songkhla at least 10 times before being smuggled into Malaysia for a fee of 1,100 baht (RM100) per person,” he said when contacted.

Meanwhile, Suchat said Thai police also saved 41 people, 22 Rohingya including a child and 19 Myanmar Muslims hidden in the forest in Bang Klam, Songkhla on Sunday.

Separately in PATTANI, a deaf and mute husband and wife couple, who were returning home after obtaining treatment at the hospital, were shot dead in Pattani, southern Thailand today.

The couple were riding a motorcycle home in Panare, Pattani from the Pattani Hospital in the incident at Kampung Tolang, Pattani-Narathiwat Road at about 1.30pm (local time).

Yaring district police chief, Col. Pol. Mustafa Manik said the victims, Rachawud Keawsi, 36, was shot in the chest and died at the scene while his wife, Supassorn Pajjimanon, 28, was shot in the chest and head and died at the Yaring Hospital.

He said that the victims were shot by a group of men wearing masks.

“The group also shot at the police who turned up at the scene when they were fleeing the area. But no one was hurt or killed in the shootout.’’

– Bernama