PATTAYA, Thailand – Border authorities in Chanthaburi reported a dramatic surge in illegal crossings by Cambodian nationals struggling to escape poverty. On September 13, nearly 100 individuals were apprehended attempting to enter Thailand, with many citing Pattaya, Chonburi, Bangkok, and Lopburi as their main destinations in search of survival.
Border authorities in Chanthaburi reported a dramatic surge in illegal crossings by Cambodian nationals struggling to escape poverty. On September 13, nearly 100 individuals were apprehended attempting to enter Thailand, with many citing Pattaya, Chonburi, Bangkok, and Lopburi as their main destinations in search of survival.
In the first operation, special operations marines from Chanthaburi, alongside immigration officials and local police, discovered 43 Cambodian migrants—23 men, 17 women, and 3 children—hidden along an irrigation canal in Ban Laem Mai, Thepnimit Subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron District. All admitted paying human traffickers between 2,500 and 6,000 baht per person to facilitate their illegal entry.
A second operation, coordinated by the Chanthaburi marine task force and other border and police units, led to the arrest of another 53 Cambodian migrants—27 men and 26 women—in Ban Marum, Khlong Yai Subdistrict. The migrants were using natural border routes to enter the country illegally and were taken to a military base for processing before being handed over to the provincial immigration authorities.
In total, 96 Cambodian nationals were detained in a single day, highlighting both the ongoing challenges of human trafficking and the strict enforcement measures along the Chanthaburi border. Authorities stressed that coordinated operations will continue to prevent illegal crossings and ensure border security.
