Guards at the Hoa Lu border gate in the southern Binh Phuoc Province apprehended two men on Tuesday afternoon while they were trying to sneak in three Cambodians.

Dao Duy Nhat, 29, and Dao Tuan Anh, 23, who belong to Loc Ninh District in Binh Phuoc, claimed they got paid VND800,000 ($34) for every person they smuggled into Vietnam.

Working together with their Cambodian counterparts, Binh Phuoc border guards and police tracked down the ring and arrested Tran Ngoc Duy, 28, also of Loc Ninh, in Cambodia, the alleged mastermind.

Authorities are investigating.

So far this year border guards in Binh Phuoc have foiled 53 attempts to smuggle in 121 people.

Vietnam has shut down its borders since March to keep out Covid-19.

Everyone allowed to enter must remain in quarantine for 14 days.