Kanchanaburi, Thailand – Thai authorities have apprehended 54 Myanmar nationals over two days in Kanchanaburi province for illegal entry without proper documentation, according to reports from Thai news outlets.

On February 19, 32 Myanmar nationals were arrested near Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi, after entering Thailand illegally through the border town of Phaya Thonesu. Authorities chased a speeding Isuzu D-Max vehicle, which failed to stop and eventually abandoned the car near Sai Yok. The passengers, who had tried to escape on foot, were caught by Thai police.

The arrested group consisted of 32 men and women, who had their destination locations tied up in handcuffs, according to reports citing statements from Thai authorities.

The detained individuals revealed that 26 of them were attempting to travel to Malaysia via southern Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province, each paying a fee of 40,000 Thai baht. Four others, traveling to Bangkok, paid 11,500 baht each, while the remaining two paid 13,000 baht for the journey.

Additionally, on February 20, 14 more Myanmar nationals were arrested at a checkpoint in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi, after following a vehicle driven by a Myanmar national. Thai authorities apprehended the group, including 10 men, two women, a 14-year-old boy, and an 8-year-old girl.

Later that evening, around 10:00 pm local time, another operation in a forest area in Sangkhla Buri led to the arrest of six more Myanmar nationals, including two women.

The Thai authorities continue to monitor and apprehend illegal migrants entering the country, with many paying substantial amounts for the journey.

Similarly, on February 18, Thai authorities arrested 15 undocumented Myanmar nationals between Sankhlaburi and Daun Phaphon, Thailand, and 116 undocumented Myanmar nationals hiding on a sea island near Win Ka Village (old village) in Sankhlaburi.