By T.K.G. Kapila

Eight Bangladeshi nationals were arrested this morning at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to flee to Serbia using forged visas. The arrests were made during a joint operation by officers from the Immigration Department's Border Surveillance Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The first suspect was apprehended when he attempted to board Qatar Airways flight KR-655, bound for Doha. Airline officials became suspicious of his Serbian visa, which was submitted for clearance, and handed him over to the Border Surveillance Unit Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the visa was fake. 

Further inquiries revealed that another Bangladeshi national who assisted the first suspect was waiting at the airport’s visitors' lounge. After his arrest authorities uncovered information about six more Bangladeshi nationals staying at a lodge in Negombo, who were also preparing to travel to Serbia.

The CID officers raided the lodge, arrested the remaining suspects and handed them over to the Immigration Department's Border Enforcement Unit. The suspects were later transferred to the CID for further investigations.