In a shocking turn of events, a retired Sri Lankan Army Major General and his wife have been arrested in connection with a human smuggling operation that facilitated the movement of former military personnel to serve on the war fronts in Russia and Ukraine. With this latest arrest, the total number of people detained or arrested in this illicit operation has reached nine.
According to reports, these Sri Lankan mercenaries were misled by unscrupulous foreign employment agencies that promised them legitimate job opportunities abroad. However, they were instead recruited to join the ongoing conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, putting their lives at risk.
The police have stated that the arrests are part of a broader investigation into the network responsible for these illicit activities. The aim is to dismantle the smuggling racket and prevent further exploitation of former military personnel.
The retired Army Major General and his wife were arrested from the Colombo suburb of Wattala on Thursday. The wife was released on bail after being produced before the court. Total number of arrests has now risen to nine, with the police actively searching for more suspects. The suspects arrested so far include two retired Major Generals and a Sergeant of the Sri Lanka Army. On Thursday, five suspects were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, which remanded them until May 30.
Earlier this month, a Sri Lankan court remanded five suspects, including a retired Major General, until May 30 in connection with the human smuggling operation. Sri Lanka has blamed unscrupulous employment agencies and ex-servicemen for being part of the racket. At least eight Sri Lankans have died on the battlefront, while more remain missing, with their families back home unable to make contact, according to the latest information. Sri Lanka has announced that a high-powered delegation will soon visit Russia to engage with the Russian authorities on the issue of mercenaries. The arrests and ongoing investigation highlight the urgent need to address the exploitation of former military personnel and crack down on human smuggling networks that put lives at risk for their own financial gain.