[taesrom]

Thirteen Afghan illegal migrants, including several "ex-militants", have been arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport for illegal entry, immigration police said yesterday.

The 13 men were detained while awaiting to board a plane to a third country about 10pm on Thursday, said Immigration Division 2 commander Nathathorn Prousoontorn. They were acting suspiciously, so officials asked to check their passports and found there were no immigration stamps in them, Pol Maj Gen Nathatorn said.

The Afghan men had arrived on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight and were to fly to Cambodia and then on to Australia, Pol Maj Gen Nathathorn said.

Initial questioning revealed that some of them were former members of an armed group in Afghanistan, said Pol Maj Gen Nathathorn, who refused to name the militant group.

Police also arrested two Thai nationals who were with the Afghans and who are thought to be members of a human trafficking gang, the officer said.

Arrest warrants have been issued for three more suspected Thai gang members, he said.

"The Afghans told us they paid 60,000 baht each to the gang," he said.

More than 30 Afghan men have been arrested for illegal entry to Thailand over the past few months, the officer said.

"After landing at Suvarnabhumi airport, these people will stay around the airport terminal for several weeks until they manage to get a flight to their targeted destination," said Pol Major Gen Nathathorn.

"Some of them would head to the southern border provinces and sneak into Malaysia," he said.