The Thai army has arrested 10 Myanmar nationals and two car drivers while they were trying to illegally enter Malaysia via Thailand.

Acting on a tip-off that 10 Myanmar citizens would be entering Thailand and then going to work in Malaysia by car through an illegal route, the Thai army topped and arrested them on the night of 31 July.

According to the tipoff, a vehicle carrying the undocumented Myanmar citizens would be crossing the army checkpoint-2521 in Ranong District at about 10pm on 31 July.

Eight Myanmar men and two Myanmar women, together with two car drivers, were arrested near Narkha village, Sotsamram. The Myanmar citizens came to Ranong by water way, and managed to avoid Thai check points to get to Thailand. They said that they were going to work in Malaysia after paying 35,000 Thai baht each to a broker.

The Thai authorities said that the arrested Myanmar citizens are in police custody in Sotsamram and action would be taken against them under the existing laws.