Police, military police and court officials raided four guesthouses in Poipet town yesterday, detaining 150 people in another crackdown on Cambodians planning to cross illegally into Thailand from Banteay Meanchey province, officials said.

Keo Sokuntea, a provincial deputy prosecutor, said 132 of those detained were suspected of having plans to seek work in Thailand. In the past four days, authorities have detained about 600 people crossing or trying to cross the border.

Hom Mut, a high-ranking police officer in Poipet town, said authorities had been tipped off about the group’s plan to hide in guesthouses.

“They thought no one knew they were there,” he said. The group would be “educated” and asked to sign a contract before being released, Mut added.