21 Myanmar migrant workers who illegally entered Thailand by boat were arrested in Ranong, Thailand, on 12 February, and are being prosecuted by the Thai authorities.

The 21 migrant workers were discovered and detained by the Ranong-based 25th Infantry Battalion, early on the morning of 12 February, at the Surat Thani Island checkpoint.

The workers had each paid 18,000 baht (1,200,000 MMK) to a broker who was going to find them illegal work on construction sites in Thailand, according to the Ranong Provincial Public Relations Office.

It said that currently the migrants are being held at the immigration office in Ranong and are being prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The political instability, lack of job opportunities, and economic crisis in Myanmar since the February 2021 coup has led to an increase in the number of Myanmar workers illegally crossing the border into Thailand and other neighbouring countries to look for work.

There are also legal Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand who have arrived using the official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.