A Chinese fugitive wanted by Interpol was arrested along the northern border of Thailand

Tu Wen-Long, 39, allegedly ran a massive fraud and online gambling racket that defrauded victims of more than 21 million Baht (479,298 GBP).

Highway police arrested the suspected ringleader at a petrol station in Tak province on August 18 after receiving a tip-off about migrant trafficking.

He was travelling with Thai drivers Jue Saeher, 43, and Chamaiporn Pacharoen, 41, who were allegedly hired to move him between vehicles to evade arrest.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Pichaya Thawichasri, superintendent of Highway Police Station 1, Division 5, said: 'Upon inspection, we found that the Chinese man had no valid immigration documents, indicating he had entered the country illegally.

'During questioning, Mr Jue admitted he was hired by someone named Jane to smuggle migrant workers from Wang Chao District to the gas station for 500 Baht each. It is his fifth time doing this. Chamaiporn was then tasked with taking them to Bangkok for 3,500 Baht per person.'

Authorities found that Tu was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for fraud and running an illegal gambling empire in China. He was linked to the 'Green Villa Asia' syndicate, which reportedly operates across Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Authorities said the fraud network had caused more than 21 million Baht (479,298 GBP) in financial losses.

Tu was charged with illegal entry, while the two Thais were charged with assisting a foreign fugitive. They were handed over to the Mae Tho Police Station for further questioning.

The arrest comes amid a spate of illegal migrant trafficking along the porous Thai-Myanmar border.

On August 14, Thai highway police intercepted two cars carrying undocumented Burmese migrants in Ang Thong. Two Thai drivers were arrested and admitted they were paid via messaging apps to smuggle workers from Tak province to Bangkok.

A week before that, highway police arrested Thai driver Kosin Chaengphai, 43, after a similar chase on Highway 32 in the same province, where he was caught smuggling a Chinese migrant without documents.

(1 GBP = 43.81 THB)