Human trafficking: Ahmad Zahid confirms several Malaysians arrested

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today confirmed that several Malaysians suspected of being involved with human trafficking syndicates in Wang Kelian, Perlis, have been arrested by the autorities.

Not only arrest warrants (were issued), but arrests have also been made," he told reporters before breaking fast with 200 orphans from the Bagan Datoh parliamentary constituency at the Sogo Shopping Complex, here.

The Bagan Datoh MP was asked whether arrest warrants had been issued against Malaysians suspected of being involved in the syndicates at Wang Kelian, where Rohingya refugees and immigrants from Bangladesh were allegedly confined.

He, however, declined to mention the exact number of arrest warrants issued or arrests made.

"There is no need to mention the total, but it's a reasonable number (arrest warrants issued) based on reports and investigations we have done," he said.

In May, the country was shocked by the discovery of 139 graves by the authorities in 28 transit camps built by human trafficking syndicates along the Malaysia-Thailand border in Wang Kelian. A total of 106 bodies have been found to date.

Previously, Ahmad Zahid had announced that several masterminds of the syndicates were handed over to Malaysia by the Thai authorities.

In a related development, Ahmad Zahid said the government was in the process of extraditing a key suspect in the human trafficking at Wang Kelian known as 'Yassin', who had been detained by the Thai authorities.

"We will prosecute once Yassin is brought here," he said.