Authorities in France repatriated 46 Sri Lankan nationals to Sri Lanka by air on January 13, 2023. The group of Sri Lankans was apprehended as they were attempting to migrate to the Réunion Island illegally by sea.
The suspects set out aboard a multiday fishing trawler (IMUL-A- 0559 CHW) from Negombo on December 2, 2022.
The group of individuals comprises 43 males including the crew of the multiday fishing vessel, two females and one boy.
They were apprehended as they were attempting to illegally enter the Réunion Island of France on December 24, 2022.
They have been identified as residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Batticaloa, Chilaw and Negombo, aged from13 to 53.
The group was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for legal action. It has been revealed that the smugglers from Dehiwala area, who led this smuggling, charged an from Rs. 200,000 to Rs.4,500,000 from one person.
Smugglers orchestrate this nature of unlawful acts with the intention of making a fast buck, by defrauding innocent people.
Therefore, the Navy urges the public to avoid being victimized to such ploys and waste their hard-earned money.
The French government does not entertain the illegal entry of people to the Réunion Island and such people will be immediately repatriated on arrival.
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