Thai authorities have arrested 17 Myanmar nationals, including a one-year-old child, in Kanchanaburi province for illegal border crossing. The group, which included six children, was attempting to enter Thailand illegally from Myanmar. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Myanmar citizens seeking to leave their country amid the current situation.
The incident occurred at 00:30 hours on March 21, when Thai authorities attempted to stop a suspicious pickup truck in Kanchanaburi province. When signaled to stop, the driver fled, leading authorities on a pursuit. The vehicle eventually entered a forested area in Sangkhlaburi, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot. Upon inspection of the abandoned vehicle, authorities discovered the 17 Myanmar nationals.
According to the investigation, the arrested individuals admitted to paying 10,000 Thai Baht each to human traffickers who facilitated their illegal border crossing. All detained persons have been taken to the Sangkhlaburi Police Station, where they face charges related to illegal entry. This incident represents one of many similar cases of Myanmar nationals attempting to cross the border illegally into Thailand, a trend that has increased significantly since the military takeover in Myanmar.
