Over 600 LTTE activists rounded up globally

Special desks set up to monitor operations:

Our Defence Correspondent

More than six-hundred LTTE activists have been netted around the globe for their involvement in various types of covert activities in recent years, informed sources said.

The majority of the LTTE activists were apprehended by several countries since the organisation withdrew from the peace process a year ago.

According to sources the United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia have arrested the key LTTE figures who had been operating in these countries for more than ten years totally dedicating themselves in looking after the interests of the organisation globally.

Shanthan and Kanthaswamy from the United Kingdom were heavily involved in fund-raising in Britain and they maintained a big network coordinating themselves with other European and Scandinavian countries, the sources said.

The LTTE's Shanthan in Britain intimidated several Tamil expatriates and forced them to make huge financial contributions for the outfit. They also arranged various cultural activities, sports events and religious programmes bringing down artistes from India to raise funds, the sources said. The sources also added that the LTTE's international network was divided into two categories.

One section was involved in raising funds and the other was responsible for purchasing arms and other equipment along with smuggling drugs.

The highest number of LTTE activists, nearly two hundred has been apprehended in Thailand in recent years. They have been put in special custody and investigations have been launched by Thai investigators, the sources said.

Special desks have been set up in countries that have proscribed the LTTE to follow its activities.

Following the stringent measures adopted by several countries there is a big drop in pro-Tiger activities globally, informed sources said.