On February 6, at around 1 am., Thai authorities arrested eight Myanmar nationals attempting to illegally enter Thailand concealed in a rice transport truck in Mae Sot district.

The arrests were made during a routine inspection by Mae Sot district police officers, who stopped a truck driven by a 36-year-old Thai national, Hue Heng Pan. Upon inspection, officers discovered six Myanmar men and two women hidden beneath a tarp covering sacks of rice.

Reports indicate that the Myanmar nationals intended to travel to Samut Prakan province for employment. All eight individuals, along with the Thai driver, have been taken to Mae Sot Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Sources reveal that the Myanmar nationals paid between 15,000 to 20,000 Thai Baht each for the illicit journey. Despite these payments, arrests of illegal entrants at checkpoints in Mae Sot have become a daily occurrence, according to Thai news outlets.