The Department of Immigration and Emigration has successfully dismantled a significant child smuggling racket operating between Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the UK. After an exhaustive investigation into over 20,000 child departures from Colombo, the findings have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
A senior detective from the Department revealed that, following the examination of 150 visits made to Malaysia out of the 20,000 departures, a distinct pattern emerged from 17 departures, prompting a detailed probe. The investigation was initiated in April after Malaysian immigration authorities busted a syndicate involved in smuggling Sri Lankan children to the UK.
The racket involved an organized syndicate paying parents of impoverished Malaysian families to obtain birth certificates and information for Sri Lankan children to apply for Malaysian passports. Successful applicants were sent to Europe and the UK, with the syndicate receiving 30,000 to 50,000 Euros for each child.
The Sri Lankan Immigration Department’s investigation focused on a child who had been deported back to Colombo. The child, a resident of Jaffna, was sent by his parents, who paid Rs7.5 million to an unknown agent suspected to be part of an international child smuggling syndicate.
A pattern was established in 17 child departures to Malaysia between December 2022 and April 2023, leading to the discovery that 13 children had landed in the UK and France with Malaysian passports.
The children, all Tamil nationals, included 11 boys and two girls aged between 11 and 16. Investigations revealed that relatives based in Europe had arranged and funded the opportunity, paying several million rupees.
The Immigration Department concluded its preliminary investigation in August 2023, providing a full report to the CID’s Human Trafficking, Smuggling Investigation, and Maritime Security Investigation (HTSIMSID) for further action. The HTSIMSID is currently conducting a comprehensive inquiry to identify the key operatives of the syndicate.
While the local immigration authorities continue their investigations, the uncovering of this child smuggling racket underscores the need for concerted efforts to combat such criminal activities.
