The Beruwela police arrested 26 persons hiding in a fishing hut called ‘Nilgro Wadiya’, at Bandarawatte. Among them was the mastermind of human smuggling.
The police and the Navy, yesterday morning, apprehended 94 would-be asylum seekers at two different locations.
The Beruwela police arrested 26 persons hiding in a fishing hut called ‘Nilgro Wadiya’, at Bandarawatte. Among them was the mastermind of human smuggling. He was a resident of Moratuwa, the police said, adding that those arrested had been waiting to board a vessel to illegally migrate to Australia.
Meanwhile, the Navy intercepted a multi-day trawler carrying 68 would-be asylum seekers around 6.00 am.
Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya told The Island that among those were 61 Tamils from Kilinochchi. Others were Sinhalese.
Fast Naval Patrol Craft, attached to the Southern Command incepted the trawler named ‘Risora Duwa, bearing registration number IMUL-A-0189, 15 nautical miles west of Kosgoda.
He said that it was being escorted to Galle Harbour for initial inquiries before being handed over to the CID. There were two women and three children among the suspect, he said.
(Island)