Lured by Lira

By Faraza Farook

A 43 ft. trawler into which about 100 men are packed into

Lured by millions of Lira, the Italian currency, and success stories of those who made the trip braving stormy seas, these youths set out on a dangerous voyage that takes them closer to their deaths than their destination or any dream.

The stories of success are few and far between. Most of those who are lucky to make the trip and who were turned back or unsuccessful tell harrowing stories. Yet these youths are determined to go to Italy. And in their poverty, mafia job agents thrive. 

Last Sunday, five Sri Lankans died in the seas off Matara when an overcrowded boat carrying more than 80 people capsized. More than 40 people were admitted to hospital, some of them in serious condition. Two days later, the Navy intercepted a boat carrying some 90 Sri Lankans who were enroute to Italy. 

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An investigation carried out by The Sunday Times in the aftermath of the boat tragedy reveals a large network — an axis involving politicians, police, mafia job agents and international racketeers.

The story begins with job agents and their henchmen spreading the news in a targeted village or area. The first person whom they trap is told that if he brings along with him three persons, he would be given a free passage or a drastic reduction in the payment.

The job agents charge anything between Rs. 250,000 and Rs. 500,000, depending on the destination. Half the payment, which amounts to one and half lakhs or more is paid before departure and the balance has to be paid on finding a job or reaching the desired destination. Many prefer Italy, because it costs the least — Rs. 250,000. Yet many are unable to raise this money even if they sell all their belongings.

Police link an increasing number of robberies in areas such as Marawila and Wennappuwa to the Italian job hunt.

In most cases, the people were willing to take the risk though they were fully aware of the horrors.

"It's always not unsuccessful. We have friends who have made it. So if I do get another opportunity, I will go," says a 26-year-old who was repatriated last year from Italy. He did not wish to give his name for fear of being identified by agents for revealing the racket. "It's a death trip," he admits, but his mind has not wavered from trying again. 

He was among a batch of 103 Sri Lankans that made the trip to Italy in August last year but were caught soon after reaching the shores and repatriated after 13 days.

Six people were involved in the organization of the trip and a 55–60 ft long fishing trawler set off in the middle of the night from Negombo on the 52 days odyssey to Italy. 

"On reaching Italy, we were told that if we walked for about two kilometres, we would come across a tarred road. But the tarred road wasn't too far and it wasn't too long before we were sighted by Red Cross officials," he said. 

The fishing trawlers are put to sea from the Southern Coast stretching from Beruwela to Galle and Matara while Negombo and Marawila on the Western Coast are also de facto ports of departure. 

"My son told me about his trip just before he left home," said Lucas Fernando who lost his 32 year-old son in last Sunday's tragedy.

Pawning jewellery, mortgaging or selling property and other assets were the usual means of finding money to be paid to traffickers or agents. 

For 32-year-old Milroy Fernando, a father of two girls aged 10 and 12, attempts to pull out from the trip proved to be as difficult as making it. His wife Augesta shaken by her husband's death last Sunday said there was no pulling out once a person had agreed to go and made a payment. "When my husband said he didn't want to go, the agent warned he would charge him Rs. 25,000 as a penalty," she said.

With police and naval patrols stepped up, agents keep changing their departure points. The latest departures seem to be from the southern coast. According to the Marawila police, groups of people set off under the pretext of going on a pilgrimage to Kataragama and meet at a departure point. 

During investigations, The Sunday Times came across a dilapidated house at Galmal Road junction in Marawila on the seaside. It was a meeting place and also a departure point. According to residents, people are asked to gather at the house and in the night, they leave in boats to board a trawler that awaits them a few miles away. They set off on the journey from there. 

A 33-year-old shop owner who returned to Sri Lanka after an unsuccessful bid to go to Italy in September 2 last year said he had a horrible experience but he did not discourage his brother who made a second attempt and is now stuck in Cairo.

Though the agent promised to return the money he has not done so yet, but nobody is willing to report the racket to the police or identify the culprits. 

A shop owner from Marawila said he was attracted to the offer after some of his employees and friends set off on the trip. Six others from neighbouring areas set sail with him from Kirinde in a trawler captained by a Russian. 

Of some 75 people who paid for the trip, only 60 boarded and others were turned away. Fifteen people at a time were taken in a boat towards the 40-ft trawler that awaited them near the Beruwela Light House. 

Recalling the nightmare he said: "Owing to the large crowd, we were cramped and couldn't even stretch ourselves when we went to sleep. We were covered by a tent so that we won't be spotted by navy and police patrols.

"The first few days saw many suffering from seasick. A week later, we were caught in a storm in the Indian Ocean and our first stop was at Male. At times of storms, we were advised to balance the boat to prevent it from capsizing. Waves rose several feet high and we screamed in fear.

"Twelve days later, the food and water ran out. A litre of polluted water that was available at the moment was spared for three days. We used a piece of cotton to distill the water. The foreign skipper of the trawler collected all the money we had, a total of Rs. 170,000, ostensibly to buy food and drink from Yemen. 

"Most boats making the trip go via Cairo, a famous stop to equip the ship with food, water and other essentials such as oil. 

"Four days later, we were caught in another storm in the Red Sea before we arrived at Cairo. There were five other boats in Cairo with Sri Lankan nationals. An organiser of the trip assured us that our agent would return the money borrowed to buy food when we reach Cairo. But that was not to be.

"Things took a different turn in Cairo when the agent didn't turn up. We were told that the Cairo police had taken in the agent. Later we were told that he was caught in Sri Lanka. But neither had happened. We were only tricked. The foreign skipper refused to captain the boat without his payment of Rs. 2 million. 

"Three local skippers who accompanied us then decided to captain the trawler after tying up the foreigner and locking him in the cool room which is usually used to store fish. For seven days he had to remain tied and was fed only for three days.

"When we came close to Italian shores, we were shown a thicket and told we could remain there that night before entering the city in the morning. When we went close to the land, we realized that there was no thicket there, but just large rocks and bushes and across were houses and also police and naval checkpoints. By morning, except for nine of us, all were caught and repatriated. Only a few were given refugee status and others were sent back".

Italian Navy on alert for Lankans

"These boats can be called death carriers," the embassy's Immigration officer Francesco Cerlini said.

According to the officer, during the first ten days of this year alone, some 460 Sri Lankans had been caught in Italy. For the whole of last year, the total number of Sri Lankans caught was 1514.

"We are deeply concerned about this escalation. Strict new controls are being enforced and the Navy is on alert," ambassador Salvatore Zotta said.

"An incorrect notion among many migrants is that once they reach Italy, they will be granted asylum. Refuge is however given to only those subject to danger due to war, political beliefs and related matter. Only a handful flee the country for political reasons. Most of the Sri Lankans are obviously going for economic reasons," the ambassador said.