More than 100 Cambodian migrant workers were discovered in rented houses this week near Rong Kleu market in Thailand’s Sakaeo province, officials said yesterday.

Banteay Meanchey provincial spokesman Ouk Keo Ratanak said Thai authorites found the workers on Wednesday crammed into two houses, and sent them back to Cambodia.

“They were cheated by Cambodian and Thai brokers. They took those workers to Thailand at nighttime with a detour to escape from the police officials, and when they arrived in Thailand, Thai brokers came to take them,” he said.

The workers have since been released by Cambodian authorities, he said, adding that it is difficult to stop workers from crossing the Thai border illegally, and that police sometimes resort to impersonating brokers in order to make arrests.

According to a report by Thai newspaper The Nation, Thai police had arrested a Thai man and Cambodian woman who rented the house where the 117 Cambodians were found.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mom Kunthear at [email protected]