Sri Lanka Navy thwarts another human smuggling attempt

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has foiled another human smuggling attempt when it intercepted a vessel bound for Australia yesterday off the Western coast of the island. A Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft on Friday has intercepted a multiday fishing trawler bound for Australia with nine people on board in the seas off the coastal town of Negombo, about 20 miles north of Colombo.
According to initial investigations carried out by the Navy, the trawler was to pick up more people onboard at different locations for the illegal journey to Australia. The trawler had been found with a large stock of food items, water bottles and personnel belongings of the passengers stacked inside. The Navy has handed over the arrested persons and the seized trawler to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. Sri Lanka's west coast has lately become a hub for illegal migration activities and the Sri Lankan authorities have foiled several illegal migration attempts in the fast few months. Sri Lankan authorities earlier this month arrested 80 people including some foreign nationals who were allegedly attempting to migrate to Australia. Last month Colombo Fraud Bureau of Sri Lanka Police arrested 119 persons including seven traffickers who were attempting to illegally sail to Australia in a fishing trawler.