Immigration busts major Bangladeshi human smuggling racket to Europe via Sri Lanka

24 March 2025 08:34 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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Prevailing political instability in Bangladesh leads to migration of scores of citizens to European destinations

Colombo, March 24 (Daily Mirror) - A major human smuggling scam to migrate Bangladeshi nationals to European destinations via India, Sri Lanka and the Middle East has been busted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE), where 10 such foreigners were arrested from Minuwangoda today.

The department’s Investigation Division on information raided a guesthouse in Minuwangoda to find ten Bangladeshi nationals remaining in the country overstaying their tourist visas.

The group had entered the country early February through an on-arrival visa of 30 days and had been remaining in the country even after their visas had expired for 15 days. The group comprised all males who were in their ages between 20 to 30 years.

A senior DIE investigation official told the Daily Mirror following the preliminary inquiries the officials learnt that the group had reportedly come from India and was planning to leave for Dubai and then to Europe afterwards.

The prevailing political instability in Bangladesh had led to a mass exodus of citizens to European destinations via neighbouring countries like India, Sri Lanka and Dubai.

The DIE Investigation Division had arrested and removed 106 Bangladesh nationals in 2024 and had ordered another 294 to leave in the same year.

Comments - 10

Jeeves Monday, 24 March 2025 08:53 PM

Sri Lanka is teeming with foreigners from everywhere who are abusing our soft immigration/ visa system! Therefore, it’s ripe for exploitation! Time to tighten existing immigration system and create new policies, and take punitive action against locals who are aiding and abetting. Vetting foreigners before arrival is far better than visa exempt or visa on arrival.

2 21

Jayantha Monday, 24 March 2025 09:35 PM

We dont want Islamic terrorists in our country.

14 19

Hon. Sarneris Tuesday, 25 March 2025 03:45 AM

It looks you have some information. Why don't you go and report?

3 0

Bertie Monday, 24 March 2025 08:56 PM

Probably tip of illegal immigrant iceberg! What about the ones who stay in Sri Lanka permanently?

2 18

Hon. Sarneris Tuesday, 25 March 2025 03:47 AM

Like the ones in Arugambey doing business in Arugambay, with no visa, but with STF protection?

2 1

Aram Monday, 24 March 2025 11:26 PM

First see that it is not sure that they are smuggled because they use SL as transit and leave for another country. So SL is not having burden by bangladesi nationals. Also. BANGLADESI HELPED sL to recover from bankruptcy. So soft tourism policy on friendly nations may be abused but cannot be stopped

2 0

Never Underestimate How what measures they take to try and track all those wanted. In fact in some countries they are located and forcefully brought back to China and a acceptable charge/s are given Monday, 24 March 2025 11:33 PM

What about the ones who came from China to wok on projects in the South and ended up strangely marrying villagers, later we find them buying up land, operating scams, businesses and overstaying their visa's. we heard that majority of the were released from prison and send her to spy. We see this happening in other countries, where they release those in jail and send them on a mission to locate people who are activists and sought after by the Chinese Govt. it is well known around the world that many such criminals are well trained and given contact details, they communicate with them directly and get ball by ball instructions on reporting bk to Chin and they are threatened if they defect and or do not follow orders and work on the reason they were released and sent overseas, their families will be killed and so they do as told, except for a very few who have gone abroad and reported to the authorities and have been given PR visas and name change and in the community

0 1

Yohan Monday, 24 March 2025 11:44 PM

Temporary cancel on arrival visa for Bangladesh until things gets back to normal.

1 1

Priyan66 Tuesday, 25 March 2025 01:47 AM

Government must stop these it affect Sri Lanka passport rankings

0 2

Priyan66 Tuesday, 25 March 2025 01:48 AM

Government must stop these it affect Sri Lanka passport rankings

0 1

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