Navy seizes multiday fishing trawler suspected of involvement in human smuggling in eastern seas

The Sri Lanka Navy took hold of a multiday fishing trawler, suspected of involvement in human smuggling, in the wee hours of 12th March 2023. The apprehension was made in the eastern seas off Nilaveli, Trincomalee and the Navy also nabbed 03 suspects aboard in this operation.

The Navy conducts regular patrols and search operations in the coastal and sea areas of the island to prevent a wide range of illegal activates taking place via sea routes. As an extension of these efforts, this special search operation was conducted in the eastern seas off Nilaveli on 12th March, deploying the Fast Attack Craft P 4444 of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Eastern Naval Command. In this search operation, a suspicious multiday fishing trawler in the sea area was searched and the fishing trawler, with 03 suspects aboard, was seized on suspicion of involvement in human smuggling.

The suspects held in this search operation were identified as residents of Wennappuwa and China Bay, Trincomalee. Meanwhile, the suspects and the multiday fishing trawler were handed over to the Harbour Police of Trincomalee for legal proceedings. Onward investigations into the incident are being carried out by the Navy and the Police.