Rohingya Traffickers Hunted
Department of Special Investigation officials trying to smash the smuggling of Rohingya through Thailand to Malaysia hope to be able to seek arrest warrants for Thai traffickers in coming days. DSI staff are also questioning Rohingya who work as roti vendors in Bangkok for any clues about trafficking gangs.
Thirteen illegal Rohingya immigrants were rounded up in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Among the Rohingya who were arrested with their roti vending carts were three minors who were held by DSI authorities as witnesses to help track down the traffickers.
According to sources, roti vending provides temporary work for illegal Rohingya migrants who are waiting in Bangkok and southern provinces for their departure to Malaysia, which is a favourite destination for them as they are Muslims.
DSI director-general Thawee Sodsong said yesterday officials and staff from other agencies were investigating the trafficking and expect to have enough evidence in three days to seek warrants for the arrest of those behind the trafficking.
Pol Col Bundit Tungkhaseranee, a superintendent of the Immigration Police, said illegal migration by Rohingya was caused by demand for workers in Malaysia.
That resulted in a conspiracy between Rohingya and Malaysian traffickers as well as officials in Thailand.
He said trafficking was still going on. Since the transit point in Ranong had been uncovered, the traffickers had moved to Satun province further south, where the migrants leave for Malaysia.
To get to Malaysia, Rohingya board trains from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat province. Some of those who had been staying in Bangkok have just been rounded up by Thai immigration police along the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sot district of Tak province.
Those who arrived in Ranong province sometimes board passenger buses to Hat Yai district of Songkhla province from where they travel on to Malaysia.
While waiting to travel to Malaysia, the Rohingya illegals often sell roti for Thai employers in Khao Chaison and Pa Bon districts of Phatthalung province
Source - The Bangkok Post