YANGON—Despite stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions, more than 100 undocumented individuals from Rakhine State—some of them coronavirus-positive—have been detained by Myanmar authorities during a two-week period while allegedly being trafficked through major cities.

On Wednesday, the police force of Yangon Region’s Shwepyithar Township arrested 99 Rohingya (26 males and 73 females) who had been held at two houses in the township for a month by human traffickers.

After being arrested, the 99 detainees were placed in isolation at a township quarantine center and tested for COVID-19.

Of the 99, five tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, according to Dr. Daw Myat Myat Hnin, director of the township’s Public Health Department.

In 2001, Myanmar introduced restrictions that prohibit Rohingya people from leaving Rakhine State and require them to get permission from township authorities before they travel.

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Police Captain Tin Maung Lwin of Shwepyithar Police Station told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the detainees are from villages in four Rakhine townships: Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw and Buthidaung.

They had been held by the traffickers and were waiting to leave for Malaysia.

Police Capt. Tin Maung Lwin said police have opened cases under sections 367 and 370 of the Penal Code against four people who brought the people from Rakhine State.

Under Section 367, whoever kidnaps or abducts any person resulting in grievous injury or slavery shall be jailed for up to 10 years.

Section 370 carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for those convicted of buying or disposing of any person as a slave.

On Monday morning, authorities in Chaungtha in Ayeyarwady Region’s Pathein Township seized a boat carrying seven Rohingya people from Rakhine State in Myanmar’s waters 5 miles (8 km) offshore

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