Forty-two undocumented Myanmar nationals have reportedly been arrested by Thai authorities in Sangkhla Buri Township, Kanchanaburi Province, according to reports from Thailand.

In the early hours of September 12, a joint team comprising personnel from the Sangkhla Buri Police Station, border patrol units, local administrative authorities and the military found a group of people near a forested area behind a fruit plantation in Ward 8 of Nong Lu Village Tract.

The authorities inspected the group and found 42 Myanmar nationals, both men and women, who were unable to produce documents proving that they had permission to reside in Thailand. Thai authorities also reported that the group could neither speak nor understand the Thai language.

The 42 Myanmar nationals were taken to Sangkhla Buri Police Station, where they are being questioned. They have reportedly been detained on charges of entering and staying in Thailand without permission and are expected to face legal proceedings.

The arrests came amid continued Thai authorities’ efforts to crack down on undocumented Myanmar nationals entering the country through border areas.

On September 3, Thai authorities also arrested seven Myanmar nationals following an incident on the Kanchanaburi–Sang Phan Buri highway in Kanchanaburi Province.

According to Thai reports, highway police and police from Sai Yok Township attempted to stop a suspicious pickup truck travelling at high speed. The vehicle subsequently lost control and went off the road. During an inspection, police found a Myanmar national driving the vehicle along with six undocumented Myanmar men. All seven were reportedly arrested and legal action was taken against them.