According to intelligence sources, there has been an increase in attempts by Sri Lankans to illegally migrate to European countries and Australia by boat.
The Navy also seized two vessels carrying 45 illegal immigrants bound for Australia with 45 people on board yesterday.
Last week, according to Navy intelligence, the STF also arrested a group of people preparing to leave for Australia at two locations.
Following is the media statement issued by the Navy regarding the illegal immigrants caught in a raid carried out by the Navy in the high seas.
Sri Lanka Navy patrolled the southern and western seas and nabbed two (02) Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessels with 45 persons on board.
Accordingly, the SriLankan Gajabahu patrolled the South Seas, a multi-day fishing vessel carrying 26 persons, and the P-481 speedboat 20, aboard the 4th Naval Squadron Squadron Squadron patrolling in the Western Seas (27). A multi-day fishing trawler carrying two persons was also apprehended by the Navy while sailing in the seas.
The crew of the multi-day trawlers were identified as residents of Kalpitiya, Chilaw, Puttalam, Negombo and Kilinochchi. It is suspected that these persons were attempting to migrate illegally to another country by sea.
In view of the political changes taking place in various parts of the world, human traffickers are increasingly organizing illegal immigration activities for the purpose of tricking innocent people into making money, and many of the dilapidated unsafe multi-day fishing vessels that are about to be discarded for improper use at sea. The Navy urges the public not only to destroy their lives and property by being caught in such dangerous human trafficking but also to avoid becoming a criminal before the law.
