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The young Asian woman found dead and in a state of decomposition in Gozo Friday afternoon is still unidentified, according to Police Commissioner John Rizzo.
An autopsy yesterday confirmed that the woman died by drowning.
Investigators are looking into a possible link with human trafficking rings that are suspected of organising clandestine trips to Sicily.
They have to establish whether the woman, believed to be aged between 20 and 25, but who was found holding no documents, was one of the three missing Chinese immigrants who Italian police claim left from Malta on 24 March. Six other Chinese were found dead off Ragusa after they were forced to jump from the boat at gunpoint, according to survivors.
Six survivors are helping the Italian police in their investigations.
Strong currents could have brought the woman found Friday back to Maltese waters, but investigators are also looking into the possibility that she could have been trafficked on a different trip.
She was found at around 1.30pm last Friday between Ghar Qawqla and Ghajn Barrani along the Gozitan coast stretching from Marsalforn to Ramla l-Hamra.
Gozitans have been arrested in the past weeks for interrogations and their speedboats were confiscated, but nobody has been charged in court so far.
Magistrate Paul Coppini is conducting an inquiry into Friday’s discovery while Gozo district police are investigating.
karl@newsworksltd.com
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