Bangkok Post(19/6/99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

<center><bold>Police catch illegal aliens 

</bold></center>

Chiang Rai-Some 300 illegal Burmese, Lao, Chinese and hilltribe
immigrants were arrested in Mae Chan district yesterday and will be sent
back.


More than 50 police officers and volunteers nabbed the aliens in a forest
near Ban Palong, tambon Mae Chan.


Police initially found these people had been duped into seeking village
hideouts pretending to be highlanders with the right to temporary
identity cards.


Some aliens from Burma and Laos had paid 1,000-3,000 baht to brokers for
help in illegal entry while the fee for each Chinese was 5,000-10,000
baht.


Pol Lt-Col Wichai Nildam, of Mae Chan station, said all those arrested
are currently in custody at Mae Sai immigration office awaiting
deportation