Authorities of the Réunion Island of France repatriated 38 Sri Lankan nationals to Sri Lanka by air on Tuesday. The group was apprehended while attempting to migrate to France illegally via sea.
Departed from the Negombo fisheries harbour on December 1, 2022 with five crew members, a multiday fishing trawler, took 64 illegal migrants from Baththalangunduwa, Puttalam on December 13 and 14 transferred on three dinghies. Subsequently, the multiday fishing trawler had proceeded towards Diego Garcia where they were apprehended and deported by the British Navy on December 30.
The human smugglers had cruised with the group of illegal immigrants to the French territory, Reunion Island where they were held by Authorities of the Réunion Island on January14.Upon being produced to the Réunion Court the group of illegal immigrants were repatriated to Sri Lanka on January25.
Among the apprehended persons were 33 males including three from the boat crew and two females who are over 18 years and two boys and one girl below 18. They have been identified as residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa Puttalam, Negombo and Gampaha.
The individuals have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for legal action. It has been revealed that the smugglers in Kalpitiya and Kandy areas, who led this smuggling, charged from Rs.400,000 to Rs.1,000,000 from one person. Smugglers orchestrate these unlawful acts to make a fast buck, by defrauding 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 illegal entry of people to the Réunion Island and such people will be immediately repatriated.
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