Nearly 200 Myanmar nationals arrested in Thailand in one month

Thai authorities have been conducting continuous inspections and arrests of Myanmar migrant workers in various provinces across Thailand, and the number of Myanmar nationals arrested in June alone has reached 195. According to statistics compiled by Mizzima, arrests were made between June 1 and June 24 due to illegal border crossings and discrepancies between the jobs stated on work permits and the actual jobs being performed. Twenty-four arrest incidents have been recorded in 12 provinces and districts across Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Phuket, Ranong, Chonburi, Surat Thani, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya. This list of arrests does not include individuals apprehended for criminal offenses such as online fraud (call centers) and drug-related crimes. Among these incidents, mass arrests were most frequent, with 33 Myanmar nationals arrested in Surat Thani province on June 16, 27 in Pathum Thani province on June 11, 25 in Ranong province on June 15, and 21 in Phichit province on June 21. The border town of Mae Sot and Chiang Mai city, where many Myanmar nationals reside, saw the highest number of arrest incidents. The increased frequency of these arrests is due to the Thai Ministry of Labor's implementation of a special plan to accelerate the nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign workers. In Myanmar, a large number of young people are illegally entering Thailand through border routes due to the military junta's conscription law, and the Thai government is also intensifying its arrests and crackdowns more strictly than before.