Eight Chinese nationals travelling through the northeastern province of Yasothon on a tour bus have been found with 91 mobile phones. 

The discovery was made when police searched a bus travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani after it stopped at the Yasothon bus terminal at about 4am on Wednesday.

They arrested eight Chinese men ranging in age from 20 to 28. Two were found to have overstayed their visas and the others were found to have entered Thailand illegally, police said.

Officers also seized 91 mobile phones found in a bag. The men told police through a translator that the phones did not belong to them.

Local media reported that the suspects were believed to be involved in a scam operation and were moving their base to another country amid a major crackdown led by Thailand and China on illegal businesses in border areas.

The bus driver said the Chinese men had boarded the bus in Kaeng Khoi district of Saraburi province and their destination was Khemmarat, a border district in Ubon Ratchathani province.