Navy arrests nearly 150 would be illegal immigrants in 8 weeks

With the latest detection of would be illegal immigrants over the weekend by the Navy the number who tried to leave the country via boat has reached the 150 mark in less than eight weeks, officials said.

On Sunday the biggest group who tried to leave the country  after the September 11 detection where 85 persons were arrested  was detected. This time it was off the southern coast  while they were staying at a lodge in Habaraduwa in Galle.

In a special Navy operation carried out  45 persons were arrested with the help of the Police in the Habaraduwa area.

Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular search operations and patrols covering the sea and coastal areas around the island with the aim of suppressing illegal activities.

As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Dakshina in the Southern Naval Command with the assistance of Habaraduwa Police had apprehended this group of would-be illegal immigrants, after searching a lodge in the area.

Among the apprehended persons were 35 males and 07 females above 18 years of age and 03 individuals below 18 years of age.

Meanwhile, a bus used to transport this group of people were also seized in this search operation.

The suspects held in the operation were identified as residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Wennappuwa and Puttalam areas. The suspects along with the bus were handed over to the Habaraduwa Police for onward legal proceedings.

The other recent detection of  attempts leave by boat :

September 28 : Sri Lanka Navy apprehended seven individuals who were suspected to be attempting to illegally migrate to a foreign country by sea, during a search operation carried out in seas off Sand Banks, Talaimannar.

September 27 : Sri Lanka Navy apprehended Six persons who were suspected to be attempting to illegally migrate to a foreign country by sea, during a search operation carried out in seas off Sand Banks, Talaimannar.

September 22: The Navy apprehended 12 persons who are suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country via sea during a special operation conducted in the beach area of Oluthuduwai, Mannar.

September 15 and 16 : The Navy apprehended 26 persons along with a dinghy and a local multiday fishing trawler, during a patrol and search operation conducted off Veththalakerni in northern waters.

September 13 : The Navy apprehended 08 individuals who were suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country by sea, during a foot patrol conducted at Kudiirippu Beach in Pesalai, Mannar.

September 11 : Sri Lanka Navy seized a local multiday fishing trawler carrying 85 individuals, suspected to be a group on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country via sea, during a patrol conducted off Batticaloa.

PERSONS ARRESTED ON SUNDAY AT HABARADUWA