Kanchanaburi: Soldiers from the Ladya Task Force arrested fifty illegal immigrants hiding in a bamboo forest while waiting to board a boat to enter the country, avoiding a land checkpoint by security units. Maj. Gen. Atsadawut Panyarachun, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division and Commander of the Surasee Task Force, coordinated with Mr. Athisak Intra, the Governor of Kanchanaburi Province. They were informed by the local intelligence operation team about an impending illegal labor smuggling operation from the Kanchanaburi border area.
According to Thai News Agency, the immigrants' intended destination was Samut Sakhon Province. In response to the intelligence, Maj. Gen. Panyarachun ordered Col. Pansak Priewphanit, Commander of the 29th Infantry Regiment and Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, Surasee Force, along with Col. Piyanes Phatthasasawatwong, Deputy Commander of the Lat Ya Task Force, Surasee Force, to lead the Lat Ya Task Force personnel. They were joined by the 134th Border Patrol Police Company, Sangkhla Buri Police Station, and the Sangkhla Buri District Administration to patrol and inspect the area of Ban Lai Nam, Village No. 3, Nong Lu Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province.
The patrol conducted last night led officers to notice a group walking along the forest edge towards Huai Songkaria. Upon investigation, they found 49 foreigners. The military officers identified themselves, took control of the group, and requested government-issued identification documents, which none of the individuals could produce.
Through an interpreter, it was revealed that the individuals had illegally entered the country, fleeing from Myanmar. They crossed the Thai border via a natural passage at Ban Bo Yipun and awaited in the bamboo forest at the end of Phongwattana Farm, Ban Lai Nam, Village No. 3, Nong Lu Subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri District. Their plan was to be picked up and transported by boat to bypass land checkpoints.
The immigrants intended to work in Mahachai District, Samut Sakhon Province, agreeing to pay a broker 15,000 baht each upon reaching their destination. However, they were apprehended by authorities before completing their journey. The officers charged them with 'being an alien who entered and stayed in the Kingdom without permission' and took them to Sangkhla Buri Police Station for further legal action.