Colombo, June 20: Sri Lankan police arrested 12 Bangladeshi men who were allegedly going to board a fishing boat to take them illegally to Italy, officials said today. The men were taken into custody from a hotel in the capital Colombo yesterday, officials said, adding that their local contacts were under investigation.

Two months ago, police arrested Pakistani nationals who had arrived in Colombo with the aim of illegally travelling to Italy.

Sri Lankans trying to smuggle themselves out of the island and reach Europe on fishing trawlers are often detained as they try to leave or turned back after reaching their destinations.

The fees for ferrying people to Europe or Australia range from 150,000 to 300,000 rupees (1,550 to 3,125 dollars) for a one-way trip aboard a trawler.

Bureau Report