Chanthaburi: The navy has intensified border security and arrested 67 Cambodian workers for illegally entering Thailand. The Royal Thai Navy, in coordination with the police and immigration, is closely monitoring border areas and has arrested 67 Cambodian laborers in Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province, while they were illegally crossing into Thailand on foot. It was revealed that most of them were fleeing starvation and unemployment.
According to Thai News Agency, Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, revealed that the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Protection Command (CBPC) continues to strictly and continuously monitor and control areas along the border to protect national sovereignty and security, and to prevent threats from the infiltration of groups or movements that may affect public order and safety. Today (January 3, 2026) at 5:00 AM, the Chanthaburi Marine Corps Task Force, in coordination with police and immigration officers, arrested 67 Cambodian migrant workers - 35 men, 25 women, and 7 children - in Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province, while they were illegally entering the Kingdom on foot.
The operation was carried out in strict accordance with legal procedures and with respect for the human dignity of the detainees, as stipulated in the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act B.E. 2565 (2022). Especially in cases involving women and children, officers provided appropriate initial humanitarian care, including water, food, and first aid, before handing them over to the investigating officers at Ban Plaeng Police Station to proceed with legal procedures and deportation to their country of origin.
Initial investigations revealed that all those arrested were Cambodian citizens facing hardship, lacking work and income, and unable to support their families. They were forced to risk illegally entering Thailand in search of work to survive. This reflects structural and management problems within their country of origin, leading to widespread starvation and lack of options for their citizens.
Illegal immigration inevitably impacts national security, public safety, and may be exploited by transnational organized crime. Therefore, the Royal Thai Navy deems it necessary to strictly enforce the law while acting with prudence, humanity, and respect for human rights.
The Royal Thai Navy reaffirms its commitment to diligently fulfilling its duties in border defense to maintain national security and prevent infiltration by adversaries. This is coupled with a commitment to understanding the suffering of fellow human beings and supporting sustainable solutions through appropriate international cooperation mechanisms.