Navy apprehends 20 would-be illegal immigrants off Trincomalee

Sri Lanka Navy took hold of a local multi-day fishing trawler carrying 20 would-be illegal immigrants to a foreign country, during a special operation conducted in the seas east of the Foul Point, Trincomalee in the wee hours of 05th December 2022.

The Navy conducts regular patrols and search operations in the sea and coastal areas of the island in order to prevent illegal migration attempts being made via sea routes. In a similar effort, the Fast Attack Craft P 474 of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla (FAF 4) attached to the Eastern Naval Command was deployed in this operation, after having spotted a suspicious local fishing trawler in the seas east of the Foul Point today. Accordingly, the fishing trawler carrying 20 persons, who were suspected to be attempting to illegally migrate from the island, were held by the Navy. Among the apprehended individuals were 16 males, including 06 persons involved in this racket, and 01 female over 18 years of age and 03 other individuals below 18 years.

The apprehended persons have been identified as residents of Kalawanchikudi, Batticoloa, Muthur, Jaffna and Negombo area and they will be handed over to the Harbour Police, Trincomalee for onward legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Navy warns the public that their lives could be in grave danger by attempting to make illegal immigration attempts using unsafe vessels and urges such people not to engage in such voyages.