Over 20 Myanmar migrant workers arrested at Bangkok entry road

Narinjara News, April 20, 2023

On April 19th, 21 Myanmar migrant workers were apprehended by Thai authorities on the road leading to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, for illegally crossing the border, according to Thai Television Channel 8. 

Channel 8's news reported that on April 19th at around 9:00 AM, two pickup trucks were halted and inspected at a police checkpoint on the road from Ayodhya District to Bangkok. It was discovered that the workers in the trucks were illegal immigrants from Myanmar, and they were subsequently apprehended by the authorities.

In the initial pickup truck, the Thai police apprehended 10 Myanmar migrant workers, and in the second vehicle, they caught 11 workers, bringing the total number of individuals arrested to 21, along with two drivers. 

"Due to the greater availability of job opportunities in Thailand, many people from Myanmar have migrated using any means possible. Their primary goal is to provide a decent livelihood for their families. However, those who entered through illegal channels risked being arrested, losing their investments, and encountering various challenges”, a person helping Myanmar migrant workers noted.

According to the Thai police, the two drivers who were arrested claimed that they had picked up two cars from Tak and were en route to the Pathum Thani District in Bangkok. They also stated that they charged each of the Myanmar migrant workers 1000 baht for the transportation services. 

Thai police records indicate that during the month of April alone, almost 100 Myanmar migrant workers were apprehended for illegal entry into Thailand.