Narcotic suppression and local police in Buriram province yesterday arrested 11 Laotian males and females aged 20-30 years old for illegal entry after stopping a passenger van at a road checkpoint.

The van carried 14 passengers, all Lao nationals, from Chong Mek pass in Ubon Ratchathani province on the way to Bangkok.

Of the 11 Laotian passengers, only three were able to produce passports and other proper official entry and working documents while the rest said they had no documents.

They admitted of trying to go to Bangkok to seek jobs.

All said they came from Savannakhet in Laos and crossed over to Thailand illegallt via Chong Mek pass.

They said it was their first time entry just to seek jobs.

However authorities did not trust their confessions but detained them awaiting for deportation.

The Thai van driver was also detained pending charge of helping to illegally bring migrant workers to the country.

11 Laotian illegal migrant workers arrested in Buriram - Thai PBS English News