Thai authorities have arrested 36 undocumented Myanmar nationals in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, according to reports from Thailand.

At around 8 am on July 4, Thai authorities stopped a van driving from Sangkhla Buri to Thong Pha Phum at a checkpoint at the entrance to Thong Pha Phum. The van fled after crossing the checkpoint and was chased by Thai authorities. The van was later apprehended near Sahakornikhon Village in Thong Pha Phum District.

Thai authorities searched the van and found 36 undocumented Myanmar nationals, including a Thai driver, in the van, according to Thai news reports.

The undocumented Myanmar nationals were investigated by Thai authorities and it was revealed that they had illegally crossed the Thai-Myanmar border after arriving in the Phayathonzu town from Yangon, and were arrested by Thai authorities on the way, despite being paid around 12,000 baht as a brokerage fee.

It was also revealed that a Thai man hired a Thai driver to drive a van to pick up the undocumented Myanmar nationals for 4,600 baht.

The undocumented Myanmar nationals and the Thai man who drove the van are currently being held at the police station in Thong Pha Phum, and further legal action will be taken, according to Thai news reports.

On July 1, Thai authorities also arrested 12 undocumented Myanmar nationals in a forest near Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.