SONGKHLA: Police intercepted three pickups with 50 illegal Myanmar migrants on board in Rattaphum district on Wednesday.
The three vehicles were pulled over at the Phru Pho checkpoint on the Asian highway for a search.
The first two vehicles held 37 men and 13 women passengers, all of working age. The other pickup was carrying the luggage of the 50 illegal migrants.
The three Thai drivers - Thanes Phungtambon, 34, Pongsakorn Sarikama, 40, and Kris Deeprom, 38 - were detained along with their passengers, for investigation.
The drivers said they were hired to take their passengers from Prachuap Khiri Khan to a place in Hat Yai, Songkhla. They were to be paid 20,000 baht after completing the job. They allegedly admitted to having done this three times previously.
The migrants and their drivers were handed over to Rattaphum police for legal proceedings. The migrants were to be charged with illegal entry and the drivers with providing assistance to illegal migrants.