Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 80 people, including Sri Lankans, Afghans, Pakistanis and Indians, who allegedly intended to migrate illegally to Australia, officials said Wednesday.
Immigration officials arrested 22 Afghans and five Pakistan nationals in Colombo while they were waiting to migrate to Australia illegally early Wednesday morning, said an immigration official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
He said preliminary investigations have revealed that their alleged plan was to fly to either Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia and thereafter travel to Australia by boat.
A Pakistani man suspected of running the human-smuggling racket has also been arrested, he said, adding that further investigations were going on.
Separately, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said police also have arrested 53 people who allegedly intended to migrate illegally to Australia after the navy intercepted a boat off the eastern coast.
He said the group arrested Tuesday includes four Sri Lankans suspected of running a people-smuggling ring. Two of the would-be migrants are Indian, and the rest are ethnic Tamils from Sri Lanka. A magistrate has ordered them detained until a hearing on June 20.
Hundreds of Sri Lankans try each year to leave illegally by boats for Australia, New Zealand and Europe looking for jobs.
Immigration officials arrested 22 Afghans and five Pakistan nationals in Colombo while they were waiting to migrate to Australia illegally early Wednesday morning, said an immigration official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
He said preliminary investigations have revealed that their alleged plan was to fly to either Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia and thereafter travel to Australia by boat.
A Pakistani man suspected of running the human-smuggling racket has also been arrested, he said, adding that further investigations were going on.
Separately, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said police also have arrested 53 people who allegedly intended to migrate illegally to Australia after the navy intercepted a boat off the eastern coast.
He said the group arrested Tuesday includes four Sri Lankans suspected of running a people-smuggling ring. Two of the would-be migrants are Indian, and the rest are ethnic Tamils from Sri Lanka. A magistrate has ordered them detained until a hearing on June 20.
Hundreds of Sri Lankans try each year to leave illegally by boats for Australia, New Zealand and Europe looking for jobs.
