KANCHANABURI: Eleven Myanmar job seekers were arrested after they illegally crossed the border into Sai Yok district of this western border province on Tuesday night.

Acting on information from local informants that a group of people had crossed the border and were hiding in a forest near Ban Thai Muang in tambon Bong Ti, a patrol from the Lat Ya Task Force moved in and rounded them up about 9pm.

The eight men and three women, aged 19-38, told the soldiers they all were from Mandalay. They were led by a Myanmar guide to the Thai border, and then by a Thai man to Ban Thai Muang and told to wait for transport to Nonthaburi province.

They agreed to pay 18,000-20,000 baht each to job brokers - the first half in advance and the balance on arrival at their destination.

The job seekers had their temperatures taken in a health screening process before being handed over to Sai Yok police for legal proceedings.