The owner of a human trafficking vessel found near Maungdaw in Arakan State was arrested in Rangoon on May 29, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Saturday.
Thai national Ou Mint – also known as Phimint, or Soe Win, or Naingnutpatunsantun – who lives in Ranong’s Banun Ward, has been identified as the owner of the trawler.
He is said to have been in contact with human trafficking gangs in Bangladesh and smuggled people into Thailand and Malaysia.
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He was arrested at 11.30am on May 29 at Maha Nwe teashop at Laydauntkan Ward, Mingaladon Township after an exchange of information by Burmese and Thai police, the news said.
The Burmese navy intercepted the trafficking boat with 200 Bangladishi nationals aboard on May 21 13 nautical miles west of Maungdaw Township. The ship’s crew were remanded in detention as officials sought to bring charges against them.
Following a Thai crackdown on human trafficking – and subsequent abandonment of thousands of migrants at sea – Thai and Malaysia governments have made arrests for offences related to trafficking over recent weeks. This is the first such arrest in Burma.