CHIANG MAI: Forty-six Myanmar nationals were caught for illegal entry in Fang district of this northern province on Saturday, the New Year day, by a government patrol.
Col Veerachai Phongkaew, commander of the 4th Cavalry Regiment, said a patrol from the 3rd Cavalry Company at about 4pm found 19 men, 20 women and seven childre, 46 in total, gathering at an area near Ban Luang, Moo 5 village in tambon Mae Ngon.
They slipped into Thailand in Fang district via a natural border crossing on the New Year day.
From an initial investigation, the illegal border crossers said they were from Panglong, Laikha and Mong Kung townships in southern Shan State of Myanmar, having paid 20,000-26,000 baht each to brokers in Myanmar for jobs in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
They were to be deported after going through legal proceedings at Fang police station.
