Defence deputy hunting corrupt border officials who open door for Covid
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday tasked Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol with the job of catching corrupt Thai officials who allow illegal immigrants to enter Thailand.
Chaichan will lead the crackdown on border corruption thought to be behind Thailand’s latest outbreak of Covid-19, detected last week among Myanmar migrant workers in Samut Sakhon.
The country has six immigration offices and 93 checkpoints screening people who cross the border, but poorly guarded natural routes open a loophole for trafficking of migrant workers.
The locations of greatest concern are two points in Chiang Rai province, Tak’s Mae Sot district, and three points in Ranong province – all bordering Myanmar.
National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk said that information about a trafficking gang helping immigrants cross the border was being investigated.
Royal Thai Armed Forces spokesman Chaowalit Sangkarit said initial investigations cleared Thai Army troops of involvement with the traffickers since the gang mostly operated by boat across the marine border in Ranong province.
A Royal Thai Navy spokesman insisted that all immigrants found crossing into Thailand by sea were documented and legal.
However, a source said the traffickers use regular border routes but bribe officials at the checkpoints to remain silent.
Prayut is thought to have a list of Thai officials suspected of being involved in the people-trafficking trade and is waiting for more evidence in their cases.
Chaichan will reportedly reveal the names of the suspects soon.