Human smuggling racket busted
 

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) busted a large scale international human smuggling racket following the arrest of its kingpin as he attempted to leave the country yesterday morning.

The arrest was made by a special CID team. A Senior Superintendent of the CID had been assigned to investigate the arrest of 137 Sri Lankans in the Red Sea Port after they left the country on forged documents to obtain employment in Western countries.

Investigations also revealed that the kingpin had charged each youth from Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 500,000 to prepare passports to Western countries.

The CID officials had also deployed a special team to trace three other masterminds who are absconding.

The CID is also investigating to ascertain whether any other Sri Lankans are involved in this racket.

Most foreigners have selected Sri Lanka as a convenient transit point for human

trafficking to Western countries, investigators added.