Staff Reporter :Mass graves and suspected human trafficking detention camps have been discovered by Malaysian police in towns and villages bordering Thailand, the country’s home minister said on Sunday.The country’s Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said officials are determining whether the graves were of human trafficking victims, but did not say how many dead bodies were discovered, according to Malaysia-based The Star Online report.”This is still under investigation,” he told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Kuala Lumpur. Earlier this month, at least 32 shallow graves believed to belong to trafficked migrants were discovered on a remote and rugged mountain in the border Sadao district in Thailand.But many more are thought to be still stuck on boats, and aid workers have urged countries to rescue them before the region is lashed by heavy monsoon rains.The Malaysia Home Ministry has confirmed the shocking unearthing of a mass grave near 17 human trafficking detention camps in Padang Besar.The camps have been here for awhile, said the home minister. “Maybe even five-years. I am shocked!” he said.The graves and camps, in Wang Kelian and several small villages along the border town of Padang Besar, were discovered by VAT69 and General Operations Force (GOF) officers last week. The camps were, however, abandoned when officers got there.The Inspector-General of Police and the deputy IGP are there now for the identification and verification process.”One grave maybe has three, four bodies. But we don’t know how many there are. We are probably going to find more bodies,” Dr. Ahmad Zahid said, adding the public would be updated as soon as fresh information is available.Dr Ahmad Zahid added that discovery left little doubt that Malaysians were involved.”Malaysia as a government is not involved. But Malaysians, yes! I recognise that as a fact.”But you know, in Mexico and the United States, they have more intelligence and state-of-the-art border security but there is still human trafficking happening there,” he told reporters at the Kajang Prison during the ministry’s ‘Family Day’ celebration.
