SONGKLA – Thai authorities have detained seven Bangladeshis in southern Thailand after they came up with a new ruse to hoodwink officers by dressing up as monks.
In the incident last week, Songkhla immigration officers and Hat Yai tourist police acted on a tipoff and were on the lookout for a group of Bangladeshis trying to move across the province.
These individuals, who had meticulously shaved their heads and donned monk robes in a bid to blend in, were not on a spiritual pilgrimage but had a different destination in mind: Malaysia.
According to The Pattaya News, they were attempting to bypass immigration scrutiny while en route to the Malaysian border, with a planned stopover in Narathiwat.
Further investigation by authorities revealed that the group had entered Thailand via an unmarked route to Mae Sot District, Tak Province after leaving Bangladesh.
Officers found the group behaving suspiciously and decided to check them.
They found the “monks” did not have any monk identification documents and had regular clothing among their belongings, casting doubts on their claims of being genuine monks.
They have been charged with illegal entry into Thailand and are now awaiting legal proceedings for their imminent deportation back to Bangladesh. – The Vibes, September 27, 2023
