The Thai Immigration Bureau recently held a press conference to officially respond to Reuters' report about Thai immigration officials allegedly assisting in human trafficking. The Immigration Bureau completely denied the allegations, stating that the report was "almost entirely fabricated," and called on the media to strengthen fact-checking when reprinting international news to avoid becoming a tool for misleading public opinion.
Background and Allegations
Reuters previously released an investigative report titled "They went to Thailand, but became scam slaves in Myanmar," accusing Thai immigration officials of assisting in human trafficking activities. The report cited several victims from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, claiming that after entering Thailand, they were handed over to intermediaries by immigration officers and eventually trafficked to scam parks in Myanmar. The report specifically mentioned a man from East Africa, pseudonymously named "Oly," who claimed he was handed over to hotel personnel at Suvarnabhumi Airport and then taken to the Mae Sot area and forced to cross the border into Myanmar.
Response and Investigation Results from the Immigration Bureau
Major General Chalong Limpathee, the commander of the second division of the Thai Immigration Bureau, directly responded at the press conference. He stated that the bureau had reviewed all entry records from November 2024 and found 62 entrants with the name "Oly," only two of whom were from East Africa, and both had legally entered and exited the country. The investigation showed that no Ethiopian nationals matched the report's content.
Analysis of Logical Flaws in the Allegations
Major General Chalong pointed out logical issues in the report: the airport baggage carousel area is a strictly controlled zone, and even he, as the director, cannot enter at will, let alone hotel personnel; the report claimed that the victims "slept in the car for eight hours but could still confirm the vehicle deviated from the route," and during this time, they took no action to resist or alert the authorities, which lacks rationality.
Border Control Measures in Thailand
Thailand has implemented strict screening mechanisms at airports and border checkpoints, mainly targeting two groups: high-risk foreigners, such as those suspected of involvement in scam activities from South Asia and Africa, with 16,538 people denied entry this year; and potential victims, such as first-time visitors to Thailand with vague travel plans and no return tickets, with 5,278 people having undergone special interviews and safety warnings this year.
Blacklist Policy and Follow-up Actions
Major General Chalong mentioned that some individuals rescued from scam parks in Myanmar, although claiming to be "victims," were found to have participated in scam activities and have therefore been blacklisted, prohibiting their re-entry into Thailand.
Official Stance and International Cooperation
The Thai Immigration Bureau finally emphasized that Reuters' allegations were "completely unfounded," and the Thai government has always cooperated with other countries to combat cross-border scam crimes. The Immigration Bureau urges international media to thoroughly verify information before reporting to avoid publishing unverified news that misleads the public.
