Within two days 270 Myanmar citizens who had crossed into Thailand illegally were nabbed.

Of the  Myanmar citizens who had illegally crossed into Thailand by way of jungle tracks 218 were caught in Kanchenaburi District, 30 in Chengrai, 22 at the Thai-Malaysia border were nabbed on February 18 and 19 respectively, according to the Thai media.

The Thai Army Public Relations Department said that 218 were caught at the Thai-Myanmar border at Prachyutkhirikan Division in the morning and night of February 19. A total of 81 comprising of 54 male and 27 female Myanmar citizens were caught near Sopho in Prachyutkhirikan District, and while on patrol along the border, at about 3.30 pm 90 male and 47 female Myanmar citizens totalling 137 were further caught, as per information released by the Thai Army.

One resident at the Mawtaung border said, "Entry into Prachyurkhirikan District is done from Mawtaung border in Taninthayi Township.  There are some who manage to escape. We hear daily about those that get caught. Those who make a profit out of this are the brokers and some staff. People risk their lives and come with the prospect of getting jobs. Brokers bring them along jungle tracks. If the situation is not good the people are abandoned in the forest.  People in this situation are caught and there are many who are serving prison sentences for years in Thailand".

Those that had been arrested were from Bago, Yangon,  Ayeyawady,  Mandalay,  Nay Pyi Taw,  Taninthayi Region, Rakkhine and Mon States. They had to pay between 20000 and 25000 Thai Baht to go to Bangkok, Nakhunpathon, Samunsakhun, Prachutkhirikhan, Chunburi, and Rayong regions.

On February 18 a total of 30 Myanmar citizens were arrested at the Chengrai District and it was learnt  that each had to pay 28000 Thai Baht as brokerage. Likewise 22 Myanmar citizens who tried to get into Malaysia from Kawkthaung crossing to Ranong were caught at the Thai-Malaysia border in February 19. It was learnt that some of the Myanmar citizens caught had been infected with COVID-19 virus, the Thai media reported.