A Cambodian wildlife trafficker was arrested with 63 monkeys allegedly stuffed in boxes in Thailand.

Than, 42, was allegedly trying to smuggle the crab-eating macaques through the Cambodian border when he was caught in Prachin Buri province.

The suspect led police on a high-speed chase across Highway 33 when he refused to stop at a checkpoint despite being flagged down.

Dashcam footage shows officers chasing his black Honda car and successfully blocking his path. A search of the vehicle yielded several black crates crammed with live monkeys in mesh bags.

Than allegedly admitted that he was transporting the animals from a northern Thai province into Cambodia. He confessed that he did not hold a license to possess the protected wildlife.

Police said that 63 macaques were rescued and handed over to wildlife officials.

Than was detained at the Kabin Buri Police Station to face charges of possessing protected wildlife without permission and overstaying.

The Central Investigation Bureau on November 29 said the arrest came as part of a joint operation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to crack down on transnational wildlife smuggling networks.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Nanthawat Suranart of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division said: ‘We apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the inquiry officer of Kabinburi Provincial Police Station for further legal action.

‘The suspect admitted to all charges and claimed that he was hired to pick up all crab-eating macaques from a province in the northern region to smuggle them to Cambodia.'

Thailand is a major transit hub for animal trafficking. With its porous borders with Myanmar and Cambodia, the country is a key route for smuggled wildlife across Southeast Asia.