Prachinburi highway police intercepted a smuggling operation transporting “grey Chinese” scammer network members from the Chanthaburi border into Bangkok’s Rangsit area. One confessed to earning 10,000 baht per trip, while another admitted to 3,000 baht per person. This was their third time, and further investigation is underway.
At 11:00 AM on 12 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kamonphop Hanwetch, head of Highway Police Station 5, Division 3, led officers from Highway Police Station 3, Division 3, Prachinburi, on patrol along Route 359 (Prachin - Sa Kaeo). They spotted a suspicious vehicle speeding with an unusually heavy and drooping rear load. The officers followed and stopped a white Toyota Fortuner, license plate 5 กฎ 701 Bangkok, driven by Mr. Chonthis Muneeto, 36, from Dan Chang Subdistrict, Naklang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province.
Inside the vehicle, they found nine Chinese passengers: eight men and one woman, each carrying a backpack containing mobile phones, network cables, and SIM cards—totaling 244 phones (all powered on), one laptop, one mouse, 32 SIM cards, and numerous other devices. None had valid passports. The driver and the Chinese passengers were taken to Prachinburi Highway Police Station for search and questioning.
Initial interrogation revealed that Mr. Chonthis Muneeto, 36, was hired to transport the Chinese from the border area of Khao Soi Dao District, Chanthaburi Province, for 10,000 baht to deliver them to Rangsit Market. Besides his vehicle, another car was also collecting Chinese passengers to deliver to destinations in Bangkok via Route 359. The Prachinburi highway police dispatched officers to search along the route and stopped a suspicious black Mitsubishi vehicle, license plate 4 ขญ 3603 Bangkok, driven by Mr. Natthapong Kamphiluk, 35. Four Chinese men were found inside, each carrying backpacks containing laptops, personal belongings, clothes, and many mobile phones. They were taken for interrogation at Prachinburi Highway Police Station.
Mr. Natthapong, driver of the black Mitsubishi Pajero, said he was hired to deliver these Chinese passengers to Bangkok at a rate of 3,000 baht per person. They were brought from Soi Dao District through natural border crossings. He admitted this was his third time doing so.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Supharuek Kaeha Thum, Deputy Superintendent, Highway Police Division 3, said that Prachinburi highway police during their patrol found a suspicious vehicle and upon inspection discovered multiple Chinese nationals and nearly 300 mobile phones. Examination of the phones confirmed the driver admitted to being hired to transport Chinese passengers.
Based on information from the first vehicle’s arrest, further similar human smuggling cases were suspected. Additional patrols along Highway 359 found another suspicious vehicle, which upon inspection contained four Chinese nationals and many mobile phones, showing similar patterns.
Prachinburi highway police initially believe all these Chinese nationals are connected to a scammer gang operating in Cambodia. Under pressure from Chinese authorities, the gang’s investors are moving them across the border into Thailand, possibly to establish scammer operations here. Police are coordinating with relevant agencies to continue the investigation.