RANONG — Nine Myanmar nationals, including five adults and four children aged 2-6 years, were rescued from deep forest after being abandoned by human traffickers along the Ranong-Chumphon mountain range in Southern Thailand. Local villagers discovered the group and alerted authorities.
On November 5, Col. Apichai Ruangrit, Commander of the 25th Task Force, received a report from the Kapoe Operations Unit about villagers in Ban Thong Lang, Moo 3, Ban Na subdistrict, Kapoe district, Ranong province, spotting suspicious-looking migrants with children walking in the deep forest, appearing exhausted and hungry.
A joint operation team, including local police, district officials, and village heads, was dispatched to investigate.
The authorities found five adults (one male and four females) and four young children aged 2-6 years hiding behind bamboo groves on a hillside. One of the two-year-olds was crying from hunger.
Initial investigation revealed the group had traveled from Dawei, Myanmar, using temporary border passes through Koh Song province. They entered Thailand via longtail boat to Ranong Fish Port.
Human traffickers picked them up in vehicles but abandoned them in the forest. Their intended destination was Malaysia, where they have relatives working. They hadn’t paid for their journey, as payment was due upon reaching their destination.
The location where they were abandoned is along a route leading to Phato district, Chumphon province. Officials believe the traffickers abandoned the group due to fear of arrest, as military checkpoints had recently been set up along known trafficking routes.
The five adult migrants have been transferred to Kapoe Police Station for legal proceedings regarding illegal entry.
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