Thailand immigration officers and police arrested 21 Bangladeshi undocumented immigrants and a Myanmar unauthorised woman from a seaside resort in the country’s Songkhla province.
According to a report by Bangkok Post, they have been charged with illegal entry and stay, reports Daily Sun.
At the time of the raid, the undocumented individuals were huddling together in a hidden room inside the resort compound.
The raid was conducted on Wednesday afternoon following a tip-off, the report added. The total 22 detainees were aged between 20 and 46, and all were headed for Malaysia via illegal channels. The Bangladeshis had paid Tk7 lakh each to the brokers to cross into Malaysia.
The tourist police also arrested the resort owner Kritidet, 66, but he denied having any knowledge about the immigrants.
The Bangladeshi immigrants flew from their home country to Cambodia, crossed into Thailand on foot in Sa Kaeo province on 4 April, and were taken to a hotel for two days before being moved in stages, the Bangkok Post reported quoting police.
At about 5am on Wednesday local time, they were transported in a covered pickup truck to the resort.
After filing formal charges, all were handed over to investigators at the Khuan Meed police station for further legal proceedings.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
