The Royal Thai Police is to investigate 33 police officers and state officials suspected of illegal labour smuggling.

Police said on Thursday that a probe had found 33 officials to be involved in smuggling migrant workers across the Thai-Myanmar border in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district.

Among them are more than 20 police, and officials from other state agencies.

Some had been negligent over the smuggling of migrants while others were involved in the crime themselves, the police chief said.

He also said police would next week issue arrest warrants for eight other Thais who are part of a smuggling gang which sneaked migrants into Thailand and sent them to work in Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the recent Covid-19 outbreak.

The chief added police would step up border security patrols to prepare for the registration of illegal foreign workers in Thailand.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday set up two new committees, one to curb illegal gambling and the other to deal with the smuggling of migrants, both seen as key factors in the recent surge of infections.