Fourteen Chinese migrants have been arrested for allegedly crossing illegally from Myanmar to Thailand.

The suspects, along with three Thai drivers, were detained at a police checkpoint near border province Chiang Rai at 2 AM on March 5.

Cops intercepted a convoy of three vehicles for inspection and found the Chinese workers bundled inside, unable to speak the local language.

They took the group to the Mae Chan Police Station for interrogation.

The drivers Amaret, Chawarn, and Boon-im, whose surnames were witheld by police, allegedly admitted that they were paid to take the workers from Chiang Saen port to the Mae Sot district in Tak province along the Thai-Myanmar border.

They said they were paid 7,000 baht per worker, earning a handsome sum of 98,000 baht (2,790 USD) for the suspected smuggling gig.

They were charged with hiding and assisting illegal immigrants while the Chinese workers were charged with illegally staying in Thailand.

Further investigation is ongoing, police said.