Fifty-four Cambodian nationals were arrested at the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province’s Ta Phraya district on the Thai side for allegedly entering the country illegally.

“The group was led by La Peun, 46, a Cambodian national, who brought 53 Cambodian workers – 32 males and 21 females – across the border,” the Ta Phraya Police Station said on Thursday.

“The suspect confessed that he had collected 3,000 baht [$94] from each worker as a fee for taking them across the border,” police said.

Other suspects reportedly told the police that they had intended to enter Thailand to find jobs, as there weren’t any in Cambodia due to the shutdown of Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

All 54 suspects were charged with entering the country as foreigners with no passport and were brought to Ta Phraya Police Station for legal procedures.

Sa Kaeo – also known by its Khmer name Srah Keo – borders Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey and Battambang provinces.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK