Kanchanaburi: Soldiers, police, and local government officials have successfully arrested 43 illegal workers attempting to enter Thailand for employment.

According to Thai News Agency, the operation was led by Maj. Gen. Atsawut Panyarachun, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division and the Surasee Task Force, and Mr. Athit Intra, Governor of Kanchanaburi Province. Local intelligence officers received a tip-off about an imminent smuggling attempt of foreign workers from the border area into the inner regions of the province.

Maj. Gen. Atsawut directed Col. Pansak Preawphanit, commander of the 29th Infantry Regiment and the Lad Ya Task Force, along with Col. Apiyanet Phatthasasawatwong, deputy commander of the Lad Ya Task Force, to coordinate with the 134th Border Patrol Police Company, Sangkhlaburi District Administration, and Sangkhlaburi Police Station to monitor the specified area.

Officers were dispatched to patrol and survey the location. At approximately 8:00 p.m., they discovered a van parked near Ban Yang Khao garbage dump in Prang Phlo Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District. Upon inspection, they found 43 individuals of Myanmar nationality (23 men and 20 women) crammed inside the vehicle without identification documents.

Interrogation through an interpreter revealed that the group had traveled from the Bago region and Yangon province in Myanmar. They illegally entered Thailand through a natural route in Ban Bo Yipun, Sangkhlaburi District. Avoiding security checkpoints, they were picked up by an unidentified individual who promised to transport them to Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, and Bangkok for work. Each person was to pay a broker between 14,000 to 20,000 baht upon arrival. However, their journey was cut short by the authorities.

All suspects were taken to Sangkhlaburi Police Station for legal processing, and efforts are underway to apprehend additional members of the smuggling network.