Police said that 47 persons who were attempting to illegally travel to another country by boat have been taken into custody by Sri Lanka Navy at Kolinjadiya, Wennappuwa.
Navy personnel had initially apprehended 39 persons during an operation this morning (01) while following their interrogation another 08 persons were arrested.
The arrestees includes 38 males, 06 females and 03 children. They have been identified as residents of Batticaloa, Chilaw, Marawila, Trincomalee and Vavuniya areas.
The group was reportedly preparing to sail to France by boat.
Police said that three vehicles used to transport them to Wennappuwa have also been taken into police custody and that investigations have been launched to arrest the main suspect involved in the human-smuggling racket.
