Twelve bodies have been found in the Mekong River in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district.

The bodies of three Chinese men, their hands tied and handcuffed behind their backs, were found on Friday, and another nine bodies, also thought to be Chinese, were found Saturday.

Police said most of the nine bodies had also been blindfolded, tied and handcuffed.

The dead men are believed to have crewed two Chinese-flagged cargo ships which were hijacked by drug traffickers on Wednesday.

Read more: Bangkok Post