Thai forces intercept seven Chinese nationals trying to enter Cambodia illegally for work

Thai border forces today intercepted seven Chinese nationals attempting to enter Cambodia illegally for "work". Thai media Hyper reported that early today, the Burapha Force's Aran Task Force, the 12th Ranger Company and the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment intercepted the group near the border in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. The seven comprised six men and one woman. One group had passports and had arrived in Thailand from the Philippines the previous year. Another group had no passports and had travelled through Vietnam and Laos before entering Thailand through natural border crossings. All had been living in Thailand's interior. They said the same Chinese acquaintance had invited them to work in Cambodia and arranged a smuggler to take them across the border, reportedly without charging a fee. An unidentified Thai man drove them from the interior to Sa Kaeo, where another unidentified Thai man took them to a house to wait. The second man later led them towards the border and told them to walk across, saying a contact on the Cambodian side would guide them in. A Thai patrol intercepted and detained them. The seven were handed to Khlong Nam Sai police station for further action.