38 Myanmar workers caught illegally entering and working in Thailand, 95 Myanmar nationals who completed their sentences sent back from Ranong

Yangon, July 4 In Ayutthaya Province in central Thailand, 23 Myanmar workers who had illegally entered and were working were arrested, and in Tak Province, 15 Myanmar workers who had illegally entered with fake work permits were arrested, totaling 38 individuals. Furthermore, 95 Myanmar nationals who had completed their sentences in Ranong Province were repatriated to Myanmar, according to a statement from Thai authorities. Around 5:30 PM on July 2, following a tip-off from local residents about illegal foreign workers employed in the Rojana Industrial Estate in Uthai District, Ayutthaya Province, a special operation team led by deputy district chiefs, in collaboration with a militia volunteer group, launched a raid. The team entered and inspected the construction site of the Thira Hopp factory, which was under construction in Section 11 of the Rojana Industrial Estate in Nong Nam Son village. During the inspection, 13 men and 10 women, totaling 23 Myanmar nationals, were apprehended as they were unable to present any documentation proving legal entry and residence in Thailand, nor any work permits. Currently, the authorities have charged all 23 arrested Myanmar workers with illegal entry and unauthorized employment in Thailand and have transferred them to the Uthai District Police Station for legal action. Similarly, in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, 15 Myanmar nationals who had illegally entered with fake work permits to work in Bangkok, along with two Thai brokers who transported them, were arrested by the Tak Provincial Immigration Police. Around 10:00 PM on July 2, the Tak Provincial Immigration Police stopped and inspected a white Toyota van on Highway No. 12 in the Fawo village tract of Mae Sot District, which was carrying illegal Myanmar nationals. During the inspection, one Thai national presented 15 sets of work permits with QR codes to prove that the Myanmar workers were legal. However, upon scanning by the authorities, the QR codes did not link to the official website of the Thai Department of Employment but to a fake website link, revealing that the documents were counterfeit. According to the statements of the arrested individuals, the brokers created these fake work permits to help them bypass police checkpoints along the route. Currently, the two arrested Thai nationals have been charged with aiding and abetting the escape of illegal foreign nationals and using forged government documents. The 15 Myanmar nationals have been charged with illegal entry and unauthorized residence in Thailand. They have been transferred to the Fawo District Police Station for legal proceedings. In addition, it was reported that 95 Myanmar nationals who had completed their sentences and were detained in Ranong Province, Thailand, were repatriated to Myanmar via the Ranong-Kawthaung route. Around 11:00 AM on July 2, the Ranong Provincial Immigration Police, the Myanmar Labor Attaché based in Ranong Province, and nine relevant agencies from the Migrant Worker Repatriation Committee jointly handed over the Myanmar nationals who had completed their sentences and were detained at the Ranong Customs Port to the Myanmar side. Among the 95 Myanmar nationals repatriated, there were 79 men and 16 women. Relevant officials cooperated to facilitate their repatriation via the Ranong-Kawthaung waterway.