Sleuths nab group attempting to sail

A group of persons who attempted to sail to Australia illegally from the Rekawa beach in the Tangalle was arrested by sleuths of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on a tip off in the wee hours of Saturday morning, police Media spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Observer.

Twelve people including Sinhalese and Tamils and the boatman have been taken into custody for questioning.

"It is not known, how much money they paid for the boatman to smuggle them across to Australia," the spokesman said. Attempts made by persons to sail to Australia last year illegally were thwarted by the Navy and the police.

-JJ