Highway Police Bust 10 Myanmar Workers Hidden in Tour Bus
Highway police stopped a tour bus on Thailand's southern highway and discovered 10 undocumented Myanmar nationals hidden among passengers, leading to charges against the three crew members who admitted to being paid 12,000 baht to transport
On July 14, 2025, Chumphon highway police officers led by Pol. S. Sarawut Kannsurang, Pol. S. Amornthep Inmimit, and Pol. S. Sitthi Chitratta were patrolling the southern Asia Highway at kilometer 20+200 in Wisai Nuea subdistrict, Mueang district, Chumphon province, when they spotted a blue-and-white tour bus staying in the right lane for a long distance before attempting to overtake their patrol vehicle. Officers signaled the bus to stop for a traffic violation check and found the driver, Kamhaeng, 43; Sitthichai, 36, a backup driver; and Eksitthi, 21, a bus attendant. During questioning, the driver appeared nervous and evasive, prompting officers to conduct a thorough vehicle search.
The search revealed 10 Myanmar nationals who had entered Thailand illegally—7 men and 3 women—mixed in with regular passengers without identification documents or valid tickets. All three crew members and the migrant workers were taken to Chumphon highway police station for further investigation.
Under interrogation, the three men confessed to being hired by an unknown Thai broker to transport the workers for a total fee of 12,000 baht, payable upon delivery. The bus had picked up the workers at two locations in Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram before heading to Surat Thani when intercepted. The driver, backup driver, and bus attendant face charges of knowingly harboring illegal aliens and obstruction of arrest. Police are investigating the identity of the labor broker and other individuals involved in the smuggling operation.
