Thai Forces Arrest 12 Migrants Crossing Border in Sa Kaeo

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Thai security forces have arrested 12 people who illegally crossed into Thailand via a natural border route in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, after allegedly paying large sums to smugglers. The group comprised 11 Myanmar nationals and one Chinese national, all detained about one kilometre inside Thai territory. Authorities said the arrests highlight the continued use of informal crossings along the eastern border.

The operation took place on 20 January after the Burapha Task Force intensified patrols in areas considered vulnerable to illegal entry. Acting on orders from Colonel Chainarong Kasi, commander of the Aranyaprathet Task Force, a ranger unit from Company 1204 was deployed to monitor the stretch between Checkpoint 53 and Checkpoint 54. The area is located near Ban Non Phatthana village, Village 13, Phan Suek subdistrict, Aranyaprathet district.

During the patrol, officers encountered a group attempting to evade detection after crossing the border through natural terrain. The detainees included 10 Myanmar men, one Myanmar woman and one Chinese man. All were taken into custody without resistance and escorted for further questioning.

According to initial questioning, the Myanmar nationals stated they had crossed through natural routes into Cambodia to work in construction. After completing their work, they said they wanted to return to Thailand to seek employment and paid 25,000 baht per person to smugglers to facilitate the crossing. Their statements suggested the journey involved coordinated movement across multiple borders.

The Chinese national told authorities he had flown to Cambodia with the intention of opening a Chinese restaurant in Phnom Penh. He claimed he needed to enter Thailand to conduct personal business and therefore used an illegal route, paying 100,000 baht to be smuggled across the border. His testimony is being verified by investigators.

Daily News reported that following the arrests, officials coordinated with Pol Col Rung Thongmon, chief of Sa Kaeo Immigration Police, to arrange interpreters for further interviews. The suspects were handed over to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station to face legal proceedings under immigration laws. Authorities said the case will proceed according to established legal procedures.

Key Takeaways

• Thai forces arrested 12 people for illegal border crossing in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo, on 20 January.

• The group included 11 Myanmar nationals and one Chinese national who admitted paying smugglers.

• All suspects will be transferred to police investigators for prosecution under Thai law.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Dailynews 2026-01-22