BANGKOK, Jan 24 — Thailand is intensifying enforcements at the Thailand-Malaysia borders to prevent migrant smuggling and curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fourth Army Region Commander, Lt General Kriangkrai Srirak, said the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia and the implementation of the movement control order in the country had caused migrants to attempt to return home.
He said since October last year until January 22, the security forces had arrested 624 migrants comprising 408 Myanmar nationals, Laos (76), Cambodia (64) and Malaysia (21) who attempted to enter Thailand via rat trails at the border areas.
"The authorities will tighten border control especially in the districts of Tak Bai, Sungai Kolok and Wang.
"We will collaborate with all relevant parties to prevent migrant smuggling and at the same time, intensifying efforts to track down the syndicates involved," he said in a news conference here, yesterday.
Kriangkrai said a total of 13 arrests were made in Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
— Bernama
