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10 arrests now linked to AP fish slave investigation; Indonesia threatens to sink Thai ship

Associated Press
Published | Updated

CORRECTS THE NUMBER OF THAIS ARRESTED TO ONE (THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN), INSTEAD OF THREE - Navy personnel stand guard as the crew of Silver Sea 2, a Thai-owned cargo ship which was seized by Indonesian authorities last August, are lined up during a media conference at the port of Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. The Thai captain of the ship has been arrested in Indonesia following allegations of illegal fishing, an official said Friday. It is the latest development linked to an Associated Press investigation that uncovered a slave island earlier this year. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda) (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS THE NUMBER OF THAIS ARRESTED TO ONE (THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN), INSTEAD OF THREE - Indonesian Minister of Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, center, examines fish from the cargo bay of Silver Sea 2, a Thai-owned cargo ship which was seized by Indonesian authorities last August, at the port of Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. The Thai captain of the ship has been arrested in Indonesia following allegations of illegal fishing, an official said Friday. It is the latest development linked to an Associated Press investigation that uncovered a slave island earlier this year. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda) (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS THE NUMBER OF THAIS ARRESTED TO ONE (THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN), INSTEAD OF THREE - Silver Sea 2, a Thai-owned cargo ship which was seized by Indonesian authorities last August, is docked at the port of Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. The Thai captain of the ship has been arrested in Indonesia following allegations of illegal fishing, an official said Friday. It is the latest development linked to an Associated Press investigation that uncovered a slave island earlier this year. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda) (The Associated Press)

The Thai captain of a seized cargo ship carrying an estimated $2 million worth of seafood has been arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of illegal fishing. It's the latest development linked to an AP investigation that uncovered a slave island earlier this year.

AP first identified the massive Thai-owned Silver Sea 2 in July with a high-resolution photo taken from space, showing slave-caught fish being loaded onto a refrigerated vessel. AP then tracked the ship through its satellite beacon and informed Indonesian authorities when it crossed into their waters.

Friday's arrest is one of 10 made in Indonesia and Thailand since the investigation tied the catch of migrant workers forced to fish to the supply chains of major U.S. food sellers and pet food companies six months ago.