Human smuggler caught

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Police apprehended a human trafficker who planned to illegally transport around 40 Sri Lankans to Australia from the Katuneriya area.

The Criminal Investigation Department had arrested the suspect along with the multi-day fishing vessel Sandali Duwa which was to be used to transport the persons concerned.

Navy took the vessel into custody with 6,586 litres of fuel.

The suspect is said to have been involved in the trade of illegally transporting humans to other countries in several incidents in 1997 and 2002.