A suspect has been arrested in connection with a human trafficking operation where three Sri Lankans were sent to Ethiopia after being promised jobs in Canada and later held by an organized criminal group.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched an investigation following information provided by the Ministry of Defence to the Inspector General of Police.
Investigations revealed that three individuals aged 25, 26 and 27 from Jaffna, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts had been sent to Ethiopia via Dubai with the promise of being transferred to Canada.
The suspect had allegedly obtained around Rs. 6.4 million from them for air tickets and visa arrangements. It was also revealed that an agreement had been made to collect Rs. 10 million from each person after their arrival in Canada.
However, after reaching Ethiopia, the three Sri Lankans were reportedly kidnapped by an organized criminal group operating in the country.
The criminals demanded a ransom of USD 30,000 per person for their release. Following the demand, relatives of the victims had reportedly paid nearly Rs. 20 million through the individual involved in sending them abroad.
Based on further investigations, the CID’s Human Trafficking Investigation and Maritime Crime Investigation Division arrested the suspect from Kilinochchi.
Ethiopian authorities successfully rescued the three Sri Lankan victims and arrested four Pakistani nationals and one Ethiopian national allegedly linked to the crime.
Following investigations by officials of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Ethiopia, arrangements were made to bring the three Sri Lankan nationals back to the country.
The CID is continuing investigations to identify links between the arrested suspect and organized criminal groups operating in Ethiopia.
