Human smuggling attempt thwarted

Bandula Gunasekara Malimbada group corr

A group of 28 who attempted to leave for Australia illegally from a point close to the Mirissa fisheries harbour, were arrested by Headquarter Police, Matara on Wednesday.

Among the persons arrested were the residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullativu, Mannar and Vavuniya areas. There were four women, 22 men and two students aged seven and nine, Police said.

Two vans used to transport the persons and the house owner of the place where the two vans parked, were taken into custody along with the fishing boat by Police. The suspects were to be produced before courts, Police said.