Almost 70 alleged illegal Vietnamese immigrants were arrested yesterday after they were found working in 15 wooden handicraft shops in Stung Treng town.

The 68 immigrants, of whom four were women, were sent to the immigration department to be questioned over their stay and work in Cambodia, said Stung Treng Provincial Police Chief Mao Dara.

“Based on the immigration law, we must take action.”

The 68 would be “chase[d] out” of the Kingdom by Monday, according to Uk Hai Sela, investigations chief at the immigration department.

“We will propose to His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng to chase [them] out. We hope to chase them out next week.”

From April to October, 504 illegal immigrants in Cambodia have been sent back to their countries, according to the national police’s website. Immigration department director Sok Phal said that the illegal immigrants came from 21 countries.