snakehead suspects held

Chinese police have detained 13 people accused of trafficking a group of women headed for Taiwan, six of whom drowned, Chinese state media said.

The suspects were taken into police custody in Fuzhou and Putian cities in Fujian province last week, the China Daily and the official Xinhua news agency said.

Police said the suspects were caught while arranging to smuggle another five women, who were also taken into custody.

In Taiwan, four suspects were arrested on murder charges last week related to the six drowinings. The men are accused of throwing 26 mainland women overboard when the Taiwanese coastguard gave chase to two speed boats off Taiwan's coast on August 26.