The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has taken 30 people into custody while they were attempting to illegally immigrate by a multiday fishing vessel, Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Suriyabandara said.
“These illegal Sri Lankan immigrants were held in southern seas about 80 nautical miles off the Galle Lighthouse in wee hours of yesterday by two Fast Attack Craft (FACs) patrolling the southern sea area,” he added.
The Navy intercepted a suspicious trawler in the Southern seas last morning (March 7) and held 30 suspects on-board. According to Navy sources, all suspects are males who were trying to illegally immigrate to another country.
“Having spotted a suspicious boat movement at sea about 80 nautical miles off the Galle Lighthouse, two FACs patrolling the southern sea area were directed to the location of the suspicious trawler,” the Navy Spokesman said.
The arrested suspects, who were all males, have been handed over to the Galle Harbour Police after a medical examination and preliminary naval investigation.
Meanwhile, the SLN urges the public not to attempt any high risk sea-borne migration to overseas countries based on false information provided by human smugglers, since such illegal attempts would finally put them behind bars.
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