SONGKHLA: Twenty-two Myanmar nationals were arrested in Hat Yai district of this southern province on Saturday, police said.
The job seekers were found hidden in the bushes near Moo 10 village in tambon Ban Rai at about 7pm by a team of district officials and supported by defence volunteers and police from Thung Lung station.
The Myanmar nationals, all men, told the authorities in initial questioning that they had travelled from Myanmar and arrived in Hat Yai on Friday, police said. They had paid 50,000 baht each to job brokers for jobs in Malaysia.
They were waiting in the bushes for the job brokers to lead them across the border into Malaysia. The brokers fled before Thai authorities arrived. All the Myanmar nationals appeared exhausted from the journey.
Most were handed over to Thung Lung police station for legal proceedings on a charge of illegal entry, pending deportation by immigration police.
The remaining four tested positive for Covid-19. They were admitted to a hospital for treatment.