Navy reports increase of illegal migrants; 265 detected in three weeks

The Navy and the police have busted two separate attempts by 75 persons to leave the country illegally via sea routes over the weekend,  with a steady increase in cases of trying to flee the country.
 
Accordingly, at least 265 persons have been detected since June 15 up to date. 
 
The two detections came off Trincomalee and in Marawila on Sunday morning and Saturday respectively.
 
The Navy said they arrested in Sunday’s detection they arrested 51 persons who are suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country via sea.
 
In the search operation mounted in the seas off Trincomalee this morning, the Eastern Naval Command intercepted a suspicious local multiday fishing trawler carrying the group. Among the apprehended individuals were 41 males including 06 persons involved in this racket, 05 females and 05 children. 
 
The persons arrested were residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Gampaha and Ratnapura,.
 
They have been handed over to the Harbour Police in Trincomalee to be produced in courts.
 
In a separate detection the Navy, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Police in Marawila arrested 24 persons while staying at a lodge to leave the country.  The group consisted of 08 males, 06 females and 10 children. 
 
The lodgekeeper who provided accommodation for the group also were arrested.
 
The residents were from Batticaloa, Valaichchenai and Chilaw areas. They were handed over to the Marawila Police for onward legal action.

The Navy during recent weeks have made several such detections showing an increase of such cases;
June 27: Forty-seven persons were arrested in Negombo while trying to leave to Australia.
June 27: Fifty-four persons were arrested while trying to leave the country off the eastern coast.
June 23: Thirty-five persons were arrested off Panadura while trying to leave the country to Australia.
June 15: Sixty four persons were arrested off the Eastern coast while trying to leave the country.