46 Sri Lankans attempted to illegally enter Réunion Island of France via sea repatriated to home by air

Authorities of the Réunion Island of France repatriated 46 Sri Lankan nationals to Sri Lanka by air last night. The group of Sri Lankans were taken into custody as they were attempting to migrate to Réunion Island illegally by sea, the Navy said. 

The suspects set out aboard a multiday fishing trawler (IMUL – A- 0559 CHW) from Negombo on December 2, last year.  The group of individuals comprises 43 males including the crew of the multiday fishing vessel, two females and a boy. 

They were apprehended as they were attempting to illegally enter the Réunion Island of France on 24th December 2022. They have been identified as residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Batticaloa, Chilaw and Negombo, from 13 to 53 years of age, Navy said.

Meanwhile, the group of individuals to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for onward legal action.

It has been revealed that the smugglers in Dehiwala, who led this smuggling, charged an amount from Rs. 200,000 rupees to Rs. 4,500,000 from one person, according to the preliminary investigations by the Navy.