A dozen Burmese workers were arrested for allegedly using fake passports to enter Thailand.

The illegal migrants were being smuggled through the border when their van was intercepted by police in Chumphon province on Tuesday.

The Highway Police Division said the 'suspicious vehicle' was flagged along Highway No. 41, where cops discovered 13 Burmese nationals - 10 men and three women - inside.

Thai driver Mr Khunakorn told police he had picked up the group in Ratchaburi and was taking them to Chumphon, where they had jobs waiting for them.

The Burmese nationals also presented their passports but officers noted numerous 'irregularities', including altered numbers, unusual fonts and edited photographs.

All 13 migrants were taken to the Chumphon Highway Police Station for questioning, where investigators confirmed every passport was counterfeit. Their visas were also not presented in the immigration database.

Police said the suspects were charged with 'using a forged passport, using a forged seal, stamp impression, or forged visa sticker', and illegal entry.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kla Sombatpiboon, superintendent of Highway Police Sub-Division 4, said: 'All 13 suspects admitted the charges and testified that they obtained forged passports to deceive authorities during travel.

‘They paid 15,000 baht per passport to a Burmese agent before entering Thailand through the natural border in Kanchanaburi from Payathonzu.

‘The driver testified that he took the group to their destination and fully cooperated with officers by allowing them to inspect his van.

‘He said he was unaware that the passengers were illegal workers, as everyone presented passports before using his service.'

The Central Investigation Bureau warned employers hiring foreign workers to undergo proper registration and verify the authenticity of their documents before hiring.

Workers were also warned to use credible agents and exercise caution to avoid falling victim to illegal operators.

The suspects were handed over to the regional station for further legal action.

The penalty for forging passports is up to ten years' imprisonment and a fine between 20,000 and 200,000 baht.