Thai authorities have arrested 17 Myanmar nationals, including a one-year-old child, for illegal border crossing in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province. Among those detained were six children, alongside adults who were attempting to enter Thailand illegally. The arrest took place in the early morning hours of March 21 during their attempt to cross into Thailand without proper documentation.
According to Thai authorities, they attempted to stop a suspicious pickup truck for inspection, but the driver refused to stop and fled the scene. This led to a pursuit by authorities, during which the vehicle entered a forested area in Sanchaburi region. The driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot. Upon inspection of the vehicle, authorities discovered the Myanmar nationals who were passengers in the vehicle.
During questioning, the detained individuals revealed they had arranged their illegal entry through a broker. Each person had paid 10,000 Thai Baht for the attempted border crossing. All arrested individuals have been taken to the Sanchaburi Police Station and are facing charges of illegal border crossing. Thai authorities have increased their border surveillance and inspection efforts to prevent such illegal border crossings. The presence of young children, including a one-year-old, among the detained individuals highlights the desperate circumstances driving people to attempt such risky border crossings.
