• The two racketeers who organised the voyage were among the suspects taken into custody
• Two mechanical boats and a multi-day trawler were seized during the raid

By Amadoru Amarajeewa   

A group of 19 people including a child that attempted to migrate to a foreign county using sea routes were taken into custody by the Navy during a raid in the sea off Batticaloa. They were handed over to the Batticaloa police for further investigation.   

Police said the two racketeers who organised the voyage were among the suspects taken into custody.   
Another group of 21 individuals who attempted to migrate to a foreign country by sea were arrested during a raid in Kalawanchikudi police area. They were handed over to Kalawanchikudi police for further action.   

A senior navy official said two mechanical boats and a multi-day trawler were seized during the raid. He said the raids were carried out with the help of the Police STF.