MAE SOT — Thai immigration authorities have filed criminal charges against 15 Chinese nationals accused of leading a riot at an immigration detention center in Tak province late Tuesday, officials said.
The disturbance erupted among a group of 325 Chinese migrants being held at the facility in Mae Sot while awaiting deportation, according to the Immigration Bureau. The group had fled Myanmar during a crackdown on scam centers and illegally crossed into Thailand before being detained.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Cherngron Rimphadee, spokesman for the Immigration Bureau, said the unrest began around 11:20 p.m. on December 9, when a fight broke out among detainees inside the controlled area. The conflict escalated after several detainees incited others to break the metal bars of the holding room using their bare hands and personal items.
Authorities initially deployed interpreters to negotiate, but the situation worsened when detainees destroyed an inner door and smashed CCTV cameras to obstruct monitoring. Fearing the incident would spiral further, officials cut electricity to the building and used water hoses to suppress the riot.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Sarawut Khonyai, commander of Immigration Division 5, ordered local immigration officers to coordinate with security agencies and prepare fire engines and water equipment at the scene as a precaution.
The situation was brought under control by 4:30 a.m. on December 10, when all detainees surrendered. One man, identified as Qian Yuxiang, suffered multiple head lacerations from the initial fight and was taken to Mae Sot Hospital for treatment.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyaluck, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, has instructed officers to fully investigate those responsible and pursue charges without leniency, citing the severity of destroying government property. Authorities have also ordered that key instigators be separated and held in higher-security detention cells, with support from local police stations in Tak.
The 15 alleged ringleaders have been charged with causing damage to property, an offense carrying up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both. Officials said additional charges will be filed if further assaults or property damage are confirmed. Immigration officers have also recorded biometric data of all detainees for future blacklisting.
The riot came days after Chinese authorities dispatched six charter flights between December 1–4 to repatriate 1,208 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in scam operations after crossing from Myanmar into Mae Sot.
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