MYEIK- Over 170 Bengalis arrested in Myanmar waters near Than Island will be sent back to Rakhine State while seven traffickers have been charged at the Kathoung Police Station, according to the sources.

A suspicious boat was stopped and searched on December 15th by the Navy. The boat was ferrying 173 Bengalis allegedly en route to Malaysia.

“Currently, we detained those Bengalis at the military vessel near Zardetngi Island. We are now waiting for the instructions. If we will get the instruction, the teams such as the Immigration Department, the General Administrative Department, and Myanmar Police Force are now ready to bring back. We already opened the file on the human traffickers at the Kathoung Police Station. The doctors and nurses are now giving healthcare services to the detainee Bengalis. The instruction will tell the place and time to send back. Now, we are providing humanitarian assistance for them,” said Myat Thu, Deputy-Director from Kathough District General Administrative Department.

“A boat departed from Myeik Township on November 27th. It waited at 8-mile south of St. Martin’s Island in Bangladesh. Human traffickers ferried Bengalis from the refugee camp in Bangladesh by boats about three times now. A Bangladeshi called Ahmart attempted sending them to Malaysia via Myanmar on December 4th, 6th, and 10th. However, they were arrested,” said Col. Thant Zin Oo from Coastal Region Command.

There are 95 male and 78 female Bengalis onboard the boat owned by Aung Myo from Myeik Township with Myo Zaw ats the helmsman.

At present, seven suspects including helmsman Myo Zaw have been charged with Criminal Procedure at the Kathoung Police Station, says Police Lt- Col. Kyaw Shwe Win from Kathoung District Police Force.