27 persons who were to leave the country illegally on a boat to Australia were taken into custody by the police in Ambalangoda, Galle and Beruwala area last night.
The group consisted of 17 males, six females and four children reportedly from the areas of Trincomalee, Negombo, Vavuniya, Galle, Ambalangoda, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu.
They will be produced before Balapitiya Magistrate today.