Navy apprehends 20 would-be illegal emigrants off Trincomalee

The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler carrying 20 would-be illegal emigrants to a foreign country. The interception was made during a special operation conducted in the seas east of Foul Point, Trincomalee, in the early hours of yesterday (05).

The Navy conducts regular patrols and search operations in the sea and coastal areas to prevent illegal migration attempts being made via sea routes. In a similar effort, the Fast Attack Craft P 474 of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla (FAF 4), attached to the Eastern Naval Command was deployed in this operation in search of a suspicious local fishing trawler in the seas, east of Foul Point, yesterday. The fishing trawler, carrying 20 persons who were suspected to be attempting to illegally migrate from the island was taken into custody by the Navy. Among the suspects were 16 males including six persons involved in the human smuggling racket, and one female, over 18 years of age, and three teenagers.

The suspects have been identified as residents of Kalawanchikudi, Batticoloa, Muthur, Jaffna and Negombo area, and they will be handed over to the Harbour Police, Trincomalee, for legal action.