Dominican Republic arrests Lankans in smuggling case

24 May 2013 07:14 am - 2 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The National Investigations Department (DNI) of the Dominican Republic arrested members of a people trafficking network with possible links to international terrorist cells, who used Dominican Republic as a bridge from Cuba, France, Spain, Sri Lanka and Haiti.

DNI chief operating officer Fidel Paulino identified the Sri Lankan- Canadian Karunanithy Nallathamby as the group’s leader, arrested in Sosua, Puerto Plata, while Kanthaany Siresh or Sriram Kannan, and Ganesh Mahenderan, or David Kristen and Kohulan Selvarasa, were detained in a house where they had hidden during two months.

The DNI said Nallathamby had stolen original passports from a passport office in Canada to alter them and sell to Indian nationals who entered Dominican territory along the border with Haiti.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the official said Nallathamby had been operating in the country during eight months, but came and went regularly to Canada where he came with four and five passports called "machetes" according to his own statements.

Paulino said the preliminary information shows that the network ‘s leader managed to smuggled more than 60 people into the country, mostly from the Middle East, whose whereabouts are being investigated. "They were then taken to Sosua where they stayed two months and then was sent to the United States and Canada via the various airport terminals in the country, particularly through Las Americas International Airport."

He said the head of the network trafficked persons to the United States and Europe, with criminal cases pending in their home country using Dominican Republic as a bridge.

He said to enter Dominican territory, network members Siresh, Ganesh and Selvarasa used the Sri Lanka-France route, then to Haiti, and from there to this nation, while the Sri Lankan Karunanithy went to Spain, from there to Cuba and then Dominican Republic via Haiti, and once in the country, to Sosua, Puerto Plata.

"The variation of this route is because the members of this network at all times sought to throw off Dominican Republic’s security and immigration agencies," Paulino said.

The authorities reportedly want to know if the network had any links or accomplices in the military services at the border and the airports.

Paulino added that last September Siresgh tried to leave the country via the Puerto Plata Aiport, using the forged passport JG495041, registered to the Canadian Tulsie Ran Budhran, but evaded and to escape from the agents.(Dominican Today)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 2

nalaka Friday, 24 May 2013 11:01 AM

Please keep them with you we dont want them back

suresh Sunday, 26 May 2013 01:42 AM

Canada is paying huge price for making it a safe heaven for terrorists

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Dominican Republic arrests Lankans in smuggling case

Comments - 2

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

April 15 declared a government holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win