Thai authorities detained thirty Cambodian nationals in eastern Thailand after they were found to have entered the country without authorization in pursuit of employment opportunities, official border sources confirmed.

The incident occurred in Ta Phraya district of Sa Kaeo province, a region adjacent to the Thai–Cambodian border, where security forces have maintained elevated patrols to manage irregular crossings and uphold national immigration laws.

Border officials reported that the group of thirty, all Cambodian nationals, were apprehended as they moved inland after crossing the frontier without proper documentation.

Preliminary inquiries indicated that many had intended to seek work in agricultural sectors, including cassava farming, reflecting broader regional migration dynamics driven by economic disparities and limited opportunities in their home communities.

Local authorities processed the detainees under Thailand’s immigration framework, with arrangements underway for their eventual repatriation in accordance with existing bilateral and legal procedures.

This operation forms part of sustained border security measures implemented by Thai authorities in cooperation with provincial police and immigration units.

These maneuvers aim to balance the enforcement of immigration rules with humanitarian considerations for vulnerable individuals, while also addressing concerns over national security and the exploitation of irregular migration routes.

The Sa Kaeo detention follows a series of similar operations in recent months, in which larger groups of Cambodian nationals have been intercepted in border provinces when attempting to enter Thailand without valid entry documentation.

Officials have reiterated their commitment to lawful, humane treatment of all detainees alongside continued efforts to strengthen orderly and legal migration pathways.