
Following a tip-off about illegal workers riding in a pickup from the border district of Khok Sung, paramilitary rangers and other officials set up a checkpoint in Tambon Nong Sung. They spotted a truck that looked suspicious and asked to search the vehicle.
The truck driver was identified as Narong Kaewpara and the three Cambodian men and one woman were found in the truck’s cab behind the front seat.
The Cambodians, who did not have passports, said they wanted to find construction work in Bangkok and Nonthaburi but because they lacked travel documents, they had hired a people-smuggling gang to help them cross the border for Bt2,000 each. They were told a truck would be waiting for them on the Thai side to take them to Bangkok.
Narong claimed he had only been hired to drive the truck and initially refused to give the name of his employer.
All five were transferred to the Aranyaprathet Police Station for a further investigation.