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Thai police identify 36 suspects in migrant smuggling

Xinhua, May 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thai police have identified 36 suspects in the smuggling of migrants to Malaysia by way of Thailand, 12 of whom remain at large, deputy police chief Aek Angsananont said Friday.

Two local police officers are among those held in custody while other suspects include local community leaders, local politicians and administrators, Aek was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

Police on Friday arrested the mayor of Padang Besar area in southern Songkhla province, which borders Malaysia's Perlis state, for his alleged leading role in a human-trafficking racket.

Since May 1, around 40 graves of illegal Rohingya migrants have been uncovered in Padang Besar, with more than 30 bodies exhumed. Police also found 30 more suspected Rohingya graves in Hat Yai district of Songkhla on Thursday.

The authorities will continue to comb the mountains along the Thai-Malaysian borderline in Songkhla and Satun provinces to stop trafficking, Aek said.

Police Chief Somyos Poomphanmuang has pledged that any police officer found to be involved in human trafficking will be prosecuted and removed from their positions immediately.

Moreover, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said earlier that he had assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help coordinate with Malaysia and Myanmar in relation to human trafficking.

The three countries are expected to commence talks this month and find ways to solve the issue, according to Prayut.

It requires integrated efforts from all related agencies and governments to eradicate human trafficking, the premier stressed. Endi