Forces in Banteay Meanchey province along the Cambodian-Thai border on October 3 arrested 22 Cambodian migrant workers while they were attempting to cross illegally into Thailand to seek employment despite stringent Covid-19 restrictions.

According to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the 22 people were arrested in the villages of Tumnup Dach and Seila Khmer in O’Chrou district's O’Beichoan commune.

They were handed over to O’Beichoan authorities to be sent to a Covid-19 quarantine centre.

“Officers intercepted the migrants in three different locations, arresting 22 people, nine of them women,” it said.

After the arrests, the army advised people not to be deceived by brokers who often persuade them to cross into Thailand illegally, regardless of safety and loss of money.

On October 2, soldiers in Banteay Meanchey also spotted more than 40 Cambodian migrant workers who were escaping from border forces after attempting to cross into Thailand.

The military arrested 28 of them in Seila Khmer village of Malai district and handed them over to border police. They are searching for other workers and brokers.

Separately, Cambodian military stationed at Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province have pledged to cooperate with their Thai counterparts to prevent and crack down on illegal border crossings.

The joint commitment was made at a meeting on October 2.

“The two sides held a meeting to discuss various issues including measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 along the border and illegal border crossings,” it said.

The meeting aimed to further enhance good cooperation between the armed forces along the Cambodian-Thai border to maintain peace and development between the two countries to avoid any confrontation.