BANGKOK, Aug 21 – Twenty-three Indian and Pakistani men were arrested in Bangkok and face deportation after police from Chokchai Station searched their unregistered homes on Pradit Manutham Road in the Lat Phrao area on Saturday.

Pol Maj Gen Chantawit Ramasut, chief of the investigation centre, led 30 police officers to surround and raid a small South Asian community near Soi Pradit Manutham 21 after some local residents reported many Indian and Pakistani immigrants living there and that they may have illegally entered the kingdom.

Police found nearly one hundred Indians and Pakistanis, most of whom sell peanuts and related snacks, roti and fabric.

Twenty-three held expired visas while the remainder had legal documents and visas.

Initially the police detained 23 men and sent them to Chokchai Police Station for further questioning before deporting them to their homelands.

In addition, the officers seized 55 vehicles, including pickup trucks and motorcycles, found at the scene to check the documentation for the vehicles and whether or not they are legal. (MCOT online news)