CARACAS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab on Monday ordered the arrest of 17 people involved in the fatal Dec. 12 shipwreck that killed "at least 20 people" off the coast of east Sucre state.

"Venezuelan justice arrested 17 people, who have been charged with the crimes of human trafficking and conspiracy," the prosecutor said via Twitter.

Luis Ali Martinez, the owner of the boat "Mis Recuerdos" ("My Memories"), which capsized off the coast of the port of Guiria, was among those arrested, Saab said.

"The Public Ministry has requested search warrants to ... capture six more people involved in this unfortunate event, on whom the full weight of the law will fall," said Saab.

In connection to the tragic accident, prosecutors "are investigating the crimes of human trafficking," he added.

Venezuela's Ministry of the Interior on Sunday said a coastguard boat located 11 bodies about seven nautical miles from Guiria.

Because the boat sank in a maritime border region, authorities said Venezuela's government was "maintaining contact and coordination" with military officials from Trinidad and Tobago. Enditem

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