Bangkok: Rangers in Sa Kaeo Province intercepted a Cambodian worker who entered the country illegally. He confessed that he returned home hungry, unemployed, and without income, so he decided to illegally cross the border and return to work in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Task Force 12th Ranger Regiment, in conjunction with military units in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, arrested two families of Cambodian migrant workers, totaling nine people, who had illegally entered Thailand.
The first group of Cambodian migrant workers was captured by rangers while they were patrolling along Highway 3383. They discovered a suspicious car waiting on the side of the road, with four people emerging from a sugarcane field and heading towards the vehicle. Upon investigation, the officers apprehended them. The driver, identified as a 37-year-old Thai named Mr. Thongchai, was found with four Cambodian workers. Mr. Thongchai admitted that he was hired by his nephew-in-law to pick up the Cambodian workers and transport them further into the country, charging 300 baht per person. The Cambodian workers revealed that they had previously worked as traders in Aranyaprathet District. After returning to Cambodia in July due to a lack of income and hunger, they contacted a guide through a friend, agreeing to pay 4,000 baht per person and 1,000 baht per child for travel, totaling 13,000 baht, before being arrested.
On the same day, rangers patrolling the Ban Phu Nam Kliang area in Pa Rai subdistrict encountered another group of five people walking with luggage through a natural passage near the border. They were investigated and arrested. All were Cambodian nationals and had no guide. Upon questioning, they consistently stated that they had previously worked sorting shoes at Rong Kluea Market but were sent back to Cambodia in June. Once back, they found themselves unemployed and without income, prompting them to illegally cross the border to return to work for their original employer in Thailand.
Authorities detained the first group of Cambodian workers and sent them to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station, while the second group was sent to Khlong Luek Police Station to face charges of illegal immigration. The Thai individuals who transported the workers will be prosecuted for aiding and concealing illegal aliens.