More than 160 undocumented Myanmar nationals were arrested in Thailand

The Thai authorities arrested 84 undocumented Myanmar nationals who were going to work in Malaysia on July 23 in Thatyang Township, Fitch Buri Province, Thailand, according to people helping Myanmar laborers.

He was arrested while waiting for people brokers to go to Malaysia via Thailand, said U Moe Ning, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese People's Affairs (JACBA), which works to help Myanmar workers.

"The way they came was from Myawati, Karen State, to Mae Sot, Thailand, brought by a broker. The brokers then transferred three cars from Mae Sot to Khao Kra Pu Village, That Yang Township, Fitch Buri State. While they were waiting for the broker, they were arrested by the local Thai police.”

Among those arrested were 73 men. It is said through an interpreter that they paid a service fee of 50,000 to 60,000 Thai baht to smugglers to travel to Malaysia, including three women and two children.

On July 18, Thai authorities arrested 83 undocumented Myanmar nationals near the Bangchi Ralongkoon Dam in Dug Pha Phu Township, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, according to Thai news reports.

He said that those arrested were detained at the relevant Thai police stations and will be handed over to Myanmar after taking action according to Thai laws.

Kanchanaburi Township in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand According to Burmese workers' helpers, Dugfa Phu Township and San Kha Buri Township have the highest number of people crossing the border into Thailand illegally, and Thai authorities are investigating and arresting them.

Due to the resurgence of the covid-19 in Thailand, the Thai authorities are making more strict arrests and have warned Burmese workers to be careful.