The Immigration Bureau (IB) has expressed outrage over a Reuters interactive report that accuses Thai immigration officials of involvement in human trafficking operations. The report, published on September 18, is based on interviews with nine individuals who claimed they were trafficked to scam centres in Myanmar between 2022 and 2025.
According to the investigation, IB staff at Suvarnabhumi airport allegedly handed over foreign nationals to criminal groups linked to call centre gangs in Myawaddy. Pol Maj Gen Cherngron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, dismissed the allegations, calling the information inaccurate and fictional.
Following the report’s release, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) carried out checks on immigration records in November 2024. They reported no record of the Ethiopian man referred to as “Oly,” the main subject of the Reuters piece who was said to have been kidnapped.
Critics, however, argue that a single review is insufficient to address the serious claims raised. They believe the most effective way for the government and the RTP to respond is to conduct a thorough counter-investigation rather than simply denying the allegations.
Analysts suggest that leaders should treat such criticism as a warning sign and use it as an opportunity to uncover corruption within their ranks. The Reuters report has reignited scrutiny of the IB, which has long faced questions over its performance.
Cases of foreigners being smuggled across Thailand’s borders continue to surface, with many eventually travelling to Bangkok or further south for work. Yet the IB rarely faces internal probes or accountability in trafficking cases.
One exception was the 2015 discovery of a mass grave of Rohingya victims, which resulted in the arrest of senior soldiers, local police, and politicians for human trafficking. In most other cases, only lower-level offenders such as drivers and brokers are prosecuted, while ringleaders and officials escape punishment.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as interior minister, has been urged to address the issue head-on. Earlier this year, before being expelled from the Pheu Thai coalition, Mr. Anutin proposed shifting immigration responsibilities away from the RTP.
The proposal would see agencies including the IB, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council’s refugee division, and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security’s anti-trafficking unit consolidated under a new department within the Interior Ministry.
Although the plan requires further development, many believe reform of the IB is long overdue. Observers argue that without meaningful changes to create a modern, efficient, and accountable immigration force, trafficking and damaging publicity will continue to undermine Thailand’s reputation.
