TAK - Another 41 illegal Myanmar migrant workers were arrested on Saturday during a raid on living quarters in Mae Sot district as authorities stepped up cracking down on illegal migrant workers living in this northern border province.
Col Sophon Nanthawuan, chief of the 4th infantry unit, on Saturday led a combined team of soldiers, border patrol police and immigration officials to the temporary living quarters at the Wat Luang community in Mae Sot municipal area following information that there were many illegal migrant workers living there.
A total of 128 Myanmar nationals, including women, men and children, were found living there. Checks found 87 entered the country legally, while 41 others were illegal migrants.
Immigration officials detained the illegal aliens pending deportation to their country.
On Friday, 110 illegal Myanmar labourers and four Thais were caught during a raid on a house and living quarters in Tak's Phop Phra district.
The illegal migrant workers were among 300 Myanmar nationals living there, with four Thais providing shelter for them.
According to local officials, there are about 1.4 million legal Myanmar workers in Thailand and the number of Myanmar migrants in the country might reach 2 million if illegal workers are included.