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24 people ready to set off to Canada by boat nabbed by navy
The Kalpitiya peninsula which has become notorious for illicit smuggling of drugs, conch shells, star tortoises and turmeric has recently become a hub for human trafficking too.
This is in spite of security being tightened in the lagoon area.
On Thursday, the Sri Lanka navy nabbed 24 people who were preparing to travel illegally to Canada by boats. The group that included a woman with an infant and two girls under the ages of 9 were from Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
The navy had detected the group while they were camping in the Kurakkanhena lagoon area. The group when questioned had said that a broker from Jaffna had promised that he would somehow take them to Canada by small boats. The broker had taken Rs 300,000 to 500,000 from each passenger, the navy said.
Kalpitiya Police said one passenger, identified as Ambu is a former LTTE member now residing in Kalpitiya.
Police said that state intelligence had recorded statements from him while the CID will also conduct a probe.
Kalpitiya OIC M. Mawsahan said the rest of the group will be produced in the Puttalam Magistrate Courts and charged for breaching the Immigration and Emigration laws.