KANCHANABURI: Government patrols arrested two groups of Myanmar job seekers, 45 in total, who illegally crossed the border into Muang district on Sunday, police said.
The first group, 24 men and five women, were found about 5pm hiding in the bushes near Ban Phu Nam Ron, the Moo 12 village of tambon Ban Kao.
About 9.30pm, another 12 men and four women were arrested near Ban Pratudan, the Moo 14 village of tambon Ban Kao.
They told officials they were from Nay Pyi Daw, Dawei, Bago, Yangon, Magway and Maylamyine townships in Myanmar. They crossed the border via a natural channel into Thailand at Ban Phu Nam Ron. They were waiting for guides who would take them promised jobs in Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Chon Buri and Saraburi provinces.
They were to pay 18,000-25,000 baht each to job brokers on arriving at their destinations.
All were handed over to Muang police station for legal proceedings, pending repatriation.