A total of 39 Myanmar citizens entering Thailand through Kawthoung-Ranong road were arrested on February 20.

Thai security forces in Ranong arrested eight illegal Myanmar workers (4 men and 4 women) and a driver around 2 am on February 20 at a village in Ranong Province.

The Thai Police also arrested another four Myanmar nationals walking near a rubber plantation on 10 am on that day. Upon investigation, it was learnt that they were walking to avoid the check point and after passing, they were to take a vehicle to continue their journey.

Thai police are adding more check points in border towns as the arrival of Myanmar nationals illegally entering Thailand increased. On their patrol, Thai police found a suspicious looking pick-up near a palm-oil plantation and arrested 5 Myanmar nationals and another 3 Myanmar nationals. They also found two vehicles carrying Myanmar nationals and arrested 5 from the first vehicle and 14 from the second vehicle, according to the news from Thailand.

Myanmar’s government announced on February 10 that the Conscription Law was being enforced for ages 18 to 35, leading many citizens to head to Thailand. As a result, the numbers of arrests are also increasing, according to those working for Workers' Rights.