Another human smuggling bid foiled

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Police yesterday arrested another group of 41 people attempting to illegally migrate to Australia.

Wennappuwa Police conducted the raid around 5am yesterday and arrested 37 Tamils and four Muslims while lodged at a guest house in Vaikkal awaiting departure by sea.

The suspects are from Batticaloa, Bandarawela, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Jaffna.

An officer of the Police Media Spokesman’s Office told the Daily News the owner of the guest house was also arrested for aiding and abetting the suspects by providing them lodging.

He said the 41 suspects were lodged in four rooms.

The officer said the owner of the guest house should have known as to why such a large number sought lodging at once. He said the owner of the guest house should have also known about the racket when he provided lodging in cramped conditions.

Acting on a tip-off received on 119, Wennappuwa Police raided the hotel.

The suspects were to be produced before the Marawila magistrate.

Wennappuwa Police are investigating to arrest the mastermind behind the racket.