Boat detained in connection with illegal human trafficking

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sept. 8, 2012: A boat, which was on its way to Australia, was detained at Mangalore Old Port as 97 of its passengers are believed to be victims of human trafficking. Many of them are women and children.

According to IGP Pratap Reddy’s initial report, many of those detained were refugees from Shri Lanka. The police are now trying to find out the identity of the boat’s owner.

 

Reports said that the  women and children were lodged in a rented house and that the place was raided and  the people inside rescued. Nearly 20 accused have been arrested and a boat has been seized from them. It is learnt, those rescued are Srilankan nationals. The arrest took place when the Tamilians of Srilanka origin were brought to the city and trafficked to Australia  using a deep sea fishing boat. There is a suspicion that this was the handiwork of Sounderrajan,  notorious for trafficking humans  to Australia and Canada.