SAMUT PRAKAN - Authorities arrested five monks and two novices from Cambodia on charges of illegally entering the country when they came across a makeshift camp in Muang district on Wednesday.
Buddhism officials, police and soldiers found the seven people in five makeshift shelters built with signboards and tent fabric on a deserted plot at the 15th kilometre marker of Theparak Road following complaints about them.
Seeing the authorities, the migrants tried to escape but were caught. They showed their monk documents but had no passports. The officials also found six fighting cocks in six cages and some appliances.
One of the Cambodian monks said through an interpreter that they had come from Battambang province and crossed the border through a natural passage. For two months, they had camped there and received alms and did not think they troubled any local residents.
Officials made them disrobe and charged them with illegal entry.
