Chinese crew members slain in 'drugs hijack'

Twelve bodies recovered from Thai section of Mekong River

KUNMING - The bodies of 12 Chinese crew members, believed to have been abducted and killed by drug traffickers who hijacked their boats, have been found in the Mekong River in Thailand, with one still missing, a Yunnan province foreign affairs official confirmed on Sunday.

The bodies, found near Chiang Saen Port in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, on Friday and Saturday, either had their hands tied or handcuffed behind their backs, were blindfolded with adhesive tape or had been shot, according to photos the victims' relatives sent to China Daily.