Thai police arrested 30 Myanmar migrant workers who illegally crossed the border into Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province Thailand, according to the Kanchanaburi-based news media.

22 men and 8 women were arrested at about 7am near Ban Tha Thung Na Moo 2, Sai Yok Subdistrict, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi province, along with a man who was acting as their guide.

Ko Saw Maung, who handles Myanmar migrant workers’ affairs, told Narinjara that they were arrested because of illegal entry at a time when it is difficult to get a passport in Myanmar, and there are few local job opportunities.

“ With the MOU system, it’s very difficult for them. It’s a time when it’s difficult to even get a passport to go abroad. They can’t afford to support their families, and so they have to try this way, so that’s why they get arrested,” he said.

The Kanchanaburi-based media reported that the Myanmar workers may have entered from the forest road bordering Mon state, and they reported the 30 people were packed like sardines into a car.

The workers are from Yangon, Mawlamyine, Bago and Rakhine, and they had paid 20,000 to 30,000 baht each to go to work in Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Samut Sakhon and Ranong.

During the beginning of this year, more than a thousand illegal Myanmar migrant workers have been arrested in Thailand, according to a list compiled by Myanmar workers’ affairs officials.