Australia gifts Sri Lanka drones to spot people smuggling

The Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders supporting the Sri Lankan Police to establish an aerial drone surveillance capability has gifted five drones to Sri Lankan police, Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced.

At a virtual ceremony last week, the Commander of the Joint Agency Task Force, along with the Australian Federal Police gifted the Sri Lankan Police five aerial drones to support crime fighting in Sri Lanka.

The drones will be used in a wide range of activities including natural disaster scene assessment and recovery, transnational crime investigation and to counter maritime people smuggling.

The commander of Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders, Rear Admiral Mark Hill, said Australia values highly the cooperation of international law enforcement partners in combating transnational crime.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sri Lankan Police for their continued efforts to deter and disrupt illegal maritime people smuggling activities in Sri Lanka,” Rear Admiral Hill said.

“Working together, Australia and Sri Lanka send a strong message that people smugglers and potential illegal immigrants considering illegal travel to Australia by boat have zero chance of success.”

AFP Senior Officer Sri Lanka, Rob Wilson said the new drones could be used in a range of ways to enhance the operational capabilities of Sri Lankan Police.

“These drone will provide a strong capability boost to help identify people smuggling ventures in otherwise hard to access areas, while also providing assistance for search and rescue operations, surveillance and crime scene observation.” SO Wilson said.

“We’re proud to have strong domestic and international partnerships that provide policing support to the region.”

The threat of maritime people smuggling continues as people smugglers find different ways to exploit vulnerable people. The partnership highlights the strength of Australia’s relationship with Sri Lanka, who have been a valuable partner in preventing and responding to maritime people smuggling.