PHNOM PENH: Cambodian authorities at Banteay Meanchey province have deported 103 Thai national living and working illegally in Cambodia. They were previously detained after found migrating in Cambodia undocumented. Before being handed over to Thai police forces at the border, the illegal workers have undergone Covid-19 test in which 34 of them tested positive.

The 103 Thai citizens were handed back to Thailand on Wednesday afternoon, at the Cambodian-Thailand Friendship bridge, in Poipet International Border Gate. According to the spokesman for the National Armed Forces, the handover was a request from the Thai side to bring their nationals back to Thailand, with both authorities unable to identify how the illegal workers have crossed the border.

A Covid-19 test was conducted to the Thai nationals before they were received back to their country. As a result, 34 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. The joint forces have also stated that some of the Thai nationals that were sent back to Thailand were deported from Pursat province, while others were suspected of being involved in kidnapping.