November 8, 2024
YANGON – Thai authorities have found nine Myanmar nationals, including four children between the ages of two and six, who were abandoned in the forest by people smugglers, the Thai-based Khaosod news agency reported.
On November 5, local villagers found the Myanmar nationals abandoned by human traffickers in the Ranaeng-Champhon forest in Ranaeng District, southern Thailand, and reported them to the Thai authorities.
Among the nine Myanmar nationals, one is an adult male. Along with the four women, there were also four children between the ages of two and six years old. They were found hiding among the bamboo trees on a hillside. A two-year-old boy was crying because of hunger. The other children were also tired, according to reports.
The Myanmar nationals have come from Dawei. He passed through Khosong District of Thailand using a temporary border crossing permit. The report continued that they had arrived at Ranang Bay Port by boat and were picked up by people smugglers in cars.
They plan to visit their relatives in Malaysia. It was initially learned that the people smugglers would be paid after the trip. It is not yet known why the people smugglers abandoned them, but Thai authorities are considering that they may have abandoned them because they were afraid of being arrested as checkpoints have been increased, according to the report.
According to the report, the five adults involved in the incident were transferred to the Kapolei Police Station to be charged with illegal entry.