Thai issue arrest warrants over murder of Chinese sailors

Thai police have issued arrest warrants for nine soldiers over suspected involvement in the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on Mekong River last year, Thai media reported Tuesday.

Pansiri Prapawat, Thailand's deputy police chief, said 109 witnesses were interviewed over the gruesome murder, according to a report on the website of English newspaper Bangkok Post. The sailors were on two cargo ships when they were attacked by armed men on Oct. 5.

Pansiri said Thai fugitive Olarn Sompongphan, alias Chamras, had worked with the gang to attack the two Chinese boats.

Olarn was involved in illicit drugs and is also wanted for the murder of former deputy interior minister and former Chaiyaphum MP Santi Chaiwirattana in Chiang Rai last year, police said. He is believed to have fled to border areas under the control of Myanmar 's Wa ethnic group.

China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, have launched joint law enforcement efforts to protect cargo ships and crack down on drug trafficking along Mekong River. Notorious drug lord Naw Kham was arrested in Laos in April and extradited to China on suspicion of being linked to the murder.