The Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended 67 individuals who had attempted to illegally migrate to a foreign country via sea.
The Navy said that the suspects were arrested in a special operation that was conducted in Sallisampaltivu and in the seas off Trincomalee last night (23).
Accordingly, a group of naval personnel from the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee in coordination with the Nilaveli Police nabbed 12 male suspects from 30 to 40 years of age, during a search operation mounted in Sallisampaltivu.
The group of individuals remaining in the locality was suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt via sea routes.
The operation also made the way for the raiding party to get hold of 02 three-wheelers, a cab, and a van used for this illegal act.
The Navy said that based on information revealed from the apprehended suspects, the Fast Attack Craft P 483 and P 415 attached to the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Eastern Naval Command were deployed in a search operation.
The SLN units had intercepted a suspicious local multiday fishing trawler on the seas off Trincomalee.
During the search of the intercepted fishing vessel, the Navy managed to apprehend another 55 individuals, from 03 to 53 years of age, who were believed to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country via sea.
Among the apprehended persons were; 45 males including 05 suspects believed to be human smugglers, 07 females, and 03 children.
The local multiday fishing trawler used for the nefarious act was also seized in this operation.
The apprehended suspects were identified as residents of Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Ampara, Ratnapura, Gampaha, and Colombo.
The Navy said arrangements are being made to hand over the individuals held in Sallisampaltivu to Nilaveli and Uppuweli Police for further legal action.
Meanwhile, the group of suspects apprehended in the seas off Trincomalee will be handed over to the Trincomalee Harbour Police for legal proceedings.
The Sri Lanka Navy has urged the public to refrain from risking their lives and property embarking on perilous sea voyages, being caught in the tricks of smugglers. (NewsWire)
