reader Posted November 14 Posted November 14 From Pattaya News On November 12th, 2024, Thai immigration officers in Tak intercepted a vehicle carrying five Chinese tourists who had been misled to believe they were en route to Pattaya. The tourists were reportedly shocked to find themselves at the Thai-Myanmar border instead of their intended destination. Officials at the Mae Sot checkpoint stopped the car on the Mae Sot-Tak road and, with the assistance of a Chinese translator, verified the tourists’ documents, which were in order. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that the tourists had intended to visit Pattaya but were instead driven toward the border with Myanmar, raising suspicions of potential trafficking. Tak authorities intervened just in time, as the tourists could have been taken to Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they risked being allegedly coerced into work by an alleged Chinese call center gang. Security forces in Mae Sot safely redirected the tourists to Pattaya, sparing them from an illegal border crossing and possible exploitation. In a related operation, Tak authorities are also assisting other foreign trafficking victims at a local human trafficking support center, coordinating with NGOs to ensure their safety and well-being. The driver of the vehicle and his identity was withheld, with immigration citing further investigation needed. Quote
