Some 600 trafficking victims saved from slavery by Bangladesh navy
- 9 years ago
Some 600 trafficking victims from Myanmar and Bangladesh who could have been sold into slavery... make it to shore.
The Bangladesh navy intercepted the operation, in what they call the biggest of its kind.
Navy Officer Commodore Naimur Rahman.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) NAVY OFFICER, COMMODORE NAIMUR RAHMAN, SAYING:
"They were on a boat near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, 15 kilometers inside Bangladeshi waters. First, they tried to go to the west towards Myanmar but we chased them and caught the boat."
Authorities detained 14 crew members on board.
Officials say the trafficking victims often expect to sail Malaysia... but are ultimately kidnapped and taken to Thailand where they are held for ransom.
If relatives can't afford to secure their release, they're killed or sold as slaves.
The Bangladesh navy intercepted the operation, in what they call the biggest of its kind.
Navy Officer Commodore Naimur Rahman.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) NAVY OFFICER, COMMODORE NAIMUR RAHMAN, SAYING:
"They were on a boat near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, 15 kilometers inside Bangladeshi waters. First, they tried to go to the west towards Myanmar but we chased them and caught the boat."
Authorities detained 14 crew members on board.
Officials say the trafficking victims often expect to sail Malaysia... but are ultimately kidnapped and taken to Thailand where they are held for ransom.
If relatives can't afford to secure their release, they're killed or sold as slaves.