Police nab human smuggler

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The main suspect wanted in connection with smuggling and duping 269 persons who sought asylum in Canada was arrested at Wellawatte by the Police Intelligence and Special Operations Unit on Saturday.

The suspect, a resident of Vavuniya had earlier sent 60 persons from the North and East to the West African state of Mali and then smuggled 209 persons in the second batch who were stranded in Togo, close to Mali. The asylum seekers were flown to Mali and Togo on the pretext of taking them to Canada by sea.

Investigations revealed that the suspect is a former LTTEer who had undergone LTTE military training for child soldiers. His eldest brother who was also in the LTTE had died in a battle with the Army.

Investigations have revealed that the victim has charged between Rs 500,000 to Rs 1.5 million as air fare to Togo which is Rs 135,000 per person.

He had been changing location from Kollupitiya, Slave Island, Wellawatte, and Fort and lived in lodges to escape police arrest. Police also uncovered details of two other suspects who assisted him while based in Malaysia and Togo, to carry out the smuggling process.

They were detained at an open stadium in the country’s capital Lome, which was occupied by the military, according to one victim.There were five children and around 20 women, Police said that the racket is not just one of human smuggling, but a well organized operation to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka.

The Intelligence Unit found for the first time a fraudulent Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), a document which certifies the holder is a seaman as per The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers) in his possession.

A lap top computer, two mobile phones, documents regarding the finances of the racket and a pen drive with information were found.

The suspect is being questioned under the Terrorism Prevention Act of 1979/48. Director of Fraud Investigation Bureau SP J A K Mark, ASP Sanjaya Irasinghe, ASP Duncan Paul, HQI Priyanka, CI Wijenayaka, Intelligence Special Operations unit OIC SI Janaka Chaminda , police sergeants, Ganganatha , Dharmasena and Gunathilaka, and PC Chaturanga and Asanga arrested the suspect.