33 Myanmar people arrested while sneaking across border into Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi border patrol soldiers on Sunday arrested 33 undocumented Myanmar nationals while allegedly trying to enter Thailand via a natural channel, unit commander Colonel Chaloemphol Sangtong said.
“Although officials have been patrolling the 371-kilometre border that Kanchanaburi shares with Myanmar to prevent illegal migrants who could bring in the Covid-19 virus, some still managed to get in,” he said.
“The latest groups, comprising 26 males and 7 females, all without proper documentation, were spotted in Khao Singto mountain in Sangkhlaburi subdistrict.”
Chaloemphol added that officials wearing PPE suits had to screen the migrants using a thermo scanner. Preliminary screening showed that the 33 migrants had normal temperature. They are still detained in isolation until more detailed tests clear them of Covid-19 infection.
“During initial questioning, the suspects admitted that they were planning to find jobs in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Ratchaburi provinces. They said they had paid a fee of THB16,000 to THB18,000 per person to an agency in Myanmar who had helped them cross the border,” he said.