Covid-19 fears: Two Chinese nationals came on illegal shopping trip to Mae Sot

[webfact]

Covid-19 fears: Two Chinese nationals came on illegal shopping trip to Mae Sot

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai soldiers in Mae Sot on the kingdom's north western border caught two Chinese nationals trying to sneak across the Moei River back to Myanmar. 

 

Hoo Sanyu and Deng Hua-U had taken a taxi to the village of Ban Wang Kaew.

 

77kaoded reported that the pair had entered Thailand illegally by the same route and gone on a shopping trip to the border town of Mae Sot. 

 

The arrest comes as border authorities step up efforts to stop people illegally crossing the border amid fears of the spread of coronavirus and respiratory disease Covid-19. 

 

The Chinese pair were handed over to health authorities for checks before being detained by Tak immigration police. 

 

The media reported that there are about 10,000 Chinese nationals working just across the border in Myanmar.

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-27

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[spiekerjozef]

That was very naughty of Hoo Sanyo and Deng Hua-wei.

[DeeMak9]

Done Doo A-gan!

[MadMac]

1 hour ago, spiekerjozef said:

That was very naughty of Hoo Sanyo and Deng Hua-wei.

No surprise Huawei is involved ;-). Can't trust them!

[Denim]

Mae Sot used to be a great place for a border bounce. Frequently, apart from Burmese migrant workers I would be the only person in the queue.

 

Not any more. The last two times I have crossed here ( December 2019 ) the whole area was thronged with Chinese. The queue at immigration has been about 30 Chinese ( and me ) on both sides of the bridge. Bad enough on the Thai side but the little immigration room on the Burmese side is now a scene of pandemonium. To avoid getting stuck there for a couple of hours I had to make my way to the front of the queue and explain to Burmese immigration I only wanted an in out stamp not a Burmese visa like everyone else.

 

Back on the Thai side I asked a Thai immigration officer what was happening and he said China has leased a big chunk of land on the Burmese side and built a little Chinese city there with factories , casinos , hotels ...etc.

 

Even Robinsons was busy with Chinese shoppers.

 

Avoid if possible

[UbonThani]

People have gone Corona mad.

[unamazedloso]

Like the ladies shirt "You want touch this". Usually, but health checks first please????

[Nakmuay887]

On 2/27/2020 at 12:35 PM, Denim said:

Mae Sot used to be a great place for a border bounce. Frequently, apart from Burmese migrant workers I would be the only person in the queue.

 

Not any more. The last two times I have crossed here ( December 2019 ) the whole area was thronged with Chinese. The queue at immigration has been about 30 Chinese ( and me ) on both sides of the bridge. Bad enough on the Thai side but the little immigration room on the Burmese side is now a scene of pandemonium. To avoid getting stuck there for a couple of hours I had to make my way to the front of the queue and explain to Burmese immigration I only wanted an in out stamp not a Burmese visa like everyone else.

 

Back on the Thai side I asked a Thai immigration officer what was happening and he said China has leased a big chunk of land on the Burmese side and built a little Chinese city there with factories , casinos , hotels ...etc.

 

Even Robinsons was busy with Chinese shoppers.

 

Avoid if possible

Still the smoothest border in the country in my opinion. Especially with the second friendship bridge now opening. 

 

When you do a border run there walk inside passport control. Hand him 500 baht and they will stamp you immediately. Open the sliding door and stand in the office. If you don't look like a backpacker the IO will know exactly what you want. 

 

I've done border runs start to finish in half an hour there. Longest party was legitimately walking across the long bridge. 

[Denim]

On 3/3/2020 at 9:38 AM, Nakmuay887 said:

Still the smoothest border in the country in my opinion. Especially with the second friendship bridge now opening. 

 

When you do a border run there walk inside passport control. Hand him 500 baht and they will stamp you immediately. Open the sliding door and stand in the office. If you don't look like a backpacker the IO will know exactly what you want. 

 

I've done border runs start to finish in half an hour there. Longest party was legitimately walking across the long bridge. 

 

Agreed....it was the smoothest border crossing. I have crossed here a total of 23 times and usually never been in the Burmese immigration booth longer than 3 or 4 minutes. But I am assuming you have not crossed here recently otherwise you would have noticed how things have changed. The second bridge which opened a few months ago is for all the freight and lorries so the long queue of trucks waiting to cross the original bridge has gone ( to the new bridge ). I actually had 500 baht in my hand with my passport but the 3 Burmese IOs were totally stressed out and I had to be very forceful to get the stamps quickly.

 

I crossed here 3 months ago and 6 months ago before that and until Burmese immigration enlarge their facilities to cope with the Chinese crowds , I'll use Kanchanaburi instead.