Thailand hands over 15 illegal immigrants to Myanmar

BANGKOK, September 29 (TNA) - Thailand on Sunday handed over 15 illegal immigrants to Myanmar, as part of efforts to boost bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. Assistant national police chief Police Lieutenant General Santi Pensut and immigration police of Chiang Rai province sent 15 Myanmar people to Myanmar authorities on the 1st Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge between Mae Sai district of Thailand’s Chiang Rai and Tachileik town of Myanmar. Some of the immigrants are illegal workers who are the victims of human trafficking ring and others are the criminals who had escaped from Myanmar to Thailand. Police Major Tan Sein, the strategic commander of Tachileik police, led Myanmar authorities to receive the people. The repatriation is part of bilateral cooperation to tackle crime and illegal immigration along their border and to boost bilateral relations. Both countries hope the cooperation will support border security and facilitate the formation of the ASEAN Community. (TNA)