Six Chinese nationals have been arrested in Kanchanaburi province after entering and remaining in Thailand without permission. The group was detained on 14 June 2026 near the Three Pagodas Pass checkpoint in Sangkhlaburi district following a joint operation by local police and security agencies.
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The operation was conducted under the direction of Pol Col Santi Pitaksakul, Superintendent of Sangkhlaburi Police Station, Pol Lt Col Manat Phromsaksophon, Deputy Superintendent for Prevention and Suppression, and Pol Lt Col Pradit Raephat, Inspector for Prevention and Suppression. Officers from Sangkhlaburi Police Station worked alongside Immigration Police from Kanchanaburi, Border Patrol Police Company 134, and soldiers from the Lat Ya Task Force.
During a patrol in the area, officers found six Chinese men sitting in front of a Buddha statue at the Three Pagodas Pass checkpoint in Moo 9, Nong Lu subdistrict, Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province. As none of the men could communicate in Thai, they were taken to Sangkhlaburi Police Station and an interpreter was called to assist with questioning.
Investigators identified one of the men as Cao Jing Hui, aged 26, a Chinese national. He and the other five individuals told authorities they had been staying in Myanmar for approximately 20 days before entering Thailand through a natural border crossing on 13 June 2026.
Police found that four members of the group were carrying passports, while two were unable to produce passports when requested by officers. Authorities subsequently charged all six with being foreign nationals who entered and remained in the Kingdom of Thailand without permission.
The arrests form part of ongoing border security and immigration enforcement efforts in the Sangkhlaburi area, which borders Myanmar and includes several natural crossing points. Officials believe the group entered Thailand through one of these unofficial routes.
SiamRath reported that the six suspects have been handed over to investigators at Sangkhlaburi Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities have not released additional details regarding their intended destination or activities in Thailand.
Pictures courtesy of SiamRath
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Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamRath 16 June 2026