A group of 36 people including men, women and children who were about to migrate illegally to a foreign country was taken into custody by Western Province North Crime Division last night.
The group consisting 21 men, three women, four boys and six girls who were reportedly from Jaffna were arrested along with two others that had facilitated the boat trip.
They were residing in a lodge in Kurukule area in Delpe Junction in Ragama at the time of the raid. The group will be produced in Mahara Magistrate Courts today.
Meanwhile five others who attempted to leave the country illegally on a trawler from Kalametiya Fisheries Harbour were arrested by Hungama Police yesterday.
The suspects were from Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas. They were produced before Angunakolapelessa Magistrate Courts, the police said.