Six Chinese nationals found begging in Bangkok and now in police custody entered Thailand legally, taking advantage of visa-free entry for Chinese tourists.
The beggars, some of whom had wounds on their bodies, are believed to be victims or members of a transnational human trafficking network earning money from street begging in major Thai cities by exploiting the generosity of the public.
The six beggars were arrested in the capital’s Pathumwan, Phaya Thai, Bang Phlat, Bang Rak and Thung Mahamek districts and fined between Bt100 and Bt500 each. One has already been deported to China, while the others are awaiting deportation.
Police say all six will be blacklisted and banned from re-entering Thailand for ten years.
Today, a whistleblower informed police at Chorakhe Noi station about a suspicious person seen begging at the Lat Krabang night market.
The informant claimed that the beggar appeared to be blind and unable to walk, but when someone stared at him for a while, he suddenly got up and left the scene unaided.
It is reported that each beggar can earn up to Bt10,000 by begging for just six hours a day, much more than the minimum wage in Thailand.
