More than 60 Muslims were caught in a boat near Myin Hlut in Maungdaw township on July 7, police officer Aung Kyaw Moe from No. 4 Border Guard Police sub troop told DMG.
After questioning the boatmen, the authorities found the boat had left from Thahtay island, Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Region, about a week ago and stopped near Ohn island in Bangladesh and took on 62 Muslims from small boats to send to Malaysia.
The boatmen charged MMK 1,700,000 per person and arranged to send the group to Malaysian territorial waters. However, they were caught at Myin Hlut Jetty after being forced to stop there due to bad weather.
“It is a fishing boat. The back of boat was sunk because of gusty winds and heavy rain. They approached the bank near Myin Hlut Sea,” said the police officer Aung Kyaw Moe.
Four boatmen and one interpreter were detained at A Lay Than Kyaw police station. The Muslim people have been questioned, and if anyone among them lived in Myanmar previously they will be settled in Myanmar according to their decision. If the police find any Bangladesh citizens, they will have action taken against them under the immigration laws, according to Maungdaw’s Anti Human Trafficking Force.
