Thai authorities have arrested 70 Myanmar nationals who illegally crossed the border into Kanchanaburi Province’s Sangkhla Buri district. The arrests took place at 00:30 hours on September 14, when the group was discovered hiding in a buffalo farm. The migrants, who originated from Yangon and Mandalay, were spotted by local Thai residents who alerted the authorities, leading to their subsequent arrest. The group consisted of 48 men and 22 women, all between the ages of 18 and 40.
According to investigations, each person had paid 15,000 Thai Baht to brokers who promised to help them secure work in Bangkok’s Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan areas. At the time of their arrest, the group was waiting in the buffalo farm for brokers to transport them to their intended destinations. The migrants had chosen illegal border crossing routes due to the current situation in Myanmar, hoping to find better employment opportunities in Thailand.
Following their arrest, the group was transferred to the Sangkhla Buri Police Station for legal proceedings. The Kanchanaburi Immigration authorities will handle their repatriation process. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Myanmar youth who, driven by economic and political circumstances in their homeland, resort to illegal border crossings in search of employment opportunities. The authorities have confirmed that all legal procedures will be followed in processing their cases before arranging for their return to Myanmar.
