Coast Guard Arrests Three Sri Lankans Attempting to Infiltrate Tamil Nadu

• Coast Guard arrests three Sri Lankans attempting to infiltrate Tamil Nadu by sea.
• All three suspects have criminal connections to drug trafficking.
• They reportedly paid Rs 2 lakh for the risky journey to Europe.

Criminal Backgrounds of Arrested Individuals Disclosed

Arrests of Sri Lankans Raise Concern Over Illegal Activities Three Sri Lankan nationals, comprising two Sinhalese men and one Tamil, were apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard early Saturday morning. The group was caught attempting to make an illegal entry into Tamil Nadu via the sea near Dhanushkodi, an area notorious for smuggling and other unlawful crossings due to its geographic closeness to Sri Lanka. As per reports, the Coast Guard ramped up its surveillance operations after receiving a tip-off, deploying hovercrafts into the narrow sea corridor that separates the two countries. This strategic move was put into place to curb illegal activities that have been rampant in this region.

Heightened Surveillance and Previous Incidents

The trio, identified as Sumith Rolan Fernando, Sahara Gunathilaga, and Kabilan, were intercepted around 4 AM when they were detected stranded on what is referred to as the fourth sand ridge. It turns out that the three had paid a hefty sum of Rs 2 lakh for this dangerous journey, leaving Pechalai district late Friday night. They had ambitions of reaching Europe through Tamil Nadu, although that plan has now been derailed. Interestingly, Kabilan, the Lankan Tamil, has a prior arrest linked to drug charges and is currently out on bail. Sources indicate that both Sinhalese men also have connections to the drug mafia, raising more alarms about the ongoing issue of drug trafficking and illegal infiltration.

Ongoing Challenges in the Region

In recent weeks, this isn’t the first time such attempts have occurred. The Sri Lankan Coast Guard had previously apprehended two more individuals, Immanuel Mushab and Ajithan, who were also found trying to infiltrate Tamil Nadu, and both had criminal backgrounds as well. Following their arrest, the recent detainees were turned over to the State Marine Police at Mandapam for further investigations. With this pattern, the Indian Coast Guard has continued to exercise increased vigilance along the Tamil Nadu coast, especially in regions that are susceptible to illegal crossings. The complexity of human trafficking and smuggling in this area poses significant challenges for law enforcement.

The recent arrest of three Sri Lankan nationals underscores the ongoing issues of illegal infiltration and trafficking in Tamil Nadu. Their disturbing backgrounds linked to drug crimes highlight the continued challenges maritime authorities face. Increased surveillance and coordinated efforts remain critical in efforts to prevent such unlawful crossings in the future.