27 illegal emigrants held

COLOMBO, APRIL 16. Sri Lankan police busted a large-scale international human smuggling racket when a trawler heading for Italy with 123 persons returned to the Negombo coast after it collided with an Indian vessel on the high seas.

Police investigation revealed that the trawler ``New Kumari 3'' carrying 123 Sri Lankan emigrants left the Negombo lagoon on April 5. Each person had paid between Rs. one and four lakhs to a job agent for their illegal passage to Italy.

On April 9, an Indian vessel collided with the trawler.

After the collision, water began to seep into the trawler and at the insistence of the passengers the crew had to turn back, and reached Negombo on the night of April 13. Police on a tip-off, rushed to the spot and arrested 27 emigrants, most of whom were from the northeast.

Details of the Indian vessel involved in the collision were not known.

- UNI

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Section  : International
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