The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a suspect in connection with a human trafficking and kidnapping case involving three Sri Lankans who were lured to Ethiopia with promises of employment in Canada.
The case was reported on May 27 after three individuals were allegedly abducted in Ethiopia by an organised foreign criminal group after travelling there through Dubai on the instructions of a man from Kilinochchi.
Investigations by the CID’s Human Trafficking, Smuggling Investigation and Maritime Crimes Division revealed that the victims had paid approximately Rs. 64 lakhs to the suspect for overseas employment opportunities.
Further investigations found that the suspect had allegedly collected around Rs. 20 million from the victims’ relatives, claiming the money was needed to secure their release. Investigators also uncovered links between the suspect and the foreign group responsible for the abduction.
The suspect was subsequently arrested while hiding in the Nedunkeni area.
The CID said it coordinated with police in Addis Ababa and the relevant diplomatic authorities to secure the release of the victims. Ethiopian authorities rescued the three Sri Lankans on June 6 and arrested four Pakistani nationals and one Ethiopian national in connection with the incident.
The three victims, aged between 26 and 34 and identified as residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi, were repatriated to Sri Lanka on August 1.
The CID said further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the suspect’s links to the foreign organised crime network involved in the case. (Newswire)