KINIGUIDE | Wang Kelian, a small, quiet town on the border of Perlis and Thailand was under the global spotlight in May 2015, when 139 graves and 28 migrant prison camps were uncovered on its hills.

The discovery revealed the cruelty and torturous tactics of the human trafficking syndicates taking advantage of the political, social and economic developments in Bangladesh and Myanmar to make a fast buck in the million-ringgit smuggling trade.

The victims buried in the graves were believed to be migrants from the Rakhine province of Myanmar, who were in search of greener pastures due to selected persecution, suppression, torture and violence in their homeland.

Facing poverty at home, they boarded...