232 Sri Lankan Interpol Red Notice suspects hiding overseas: Public Security Minister
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says a total of 232 Sri Lankan suspects who are the subject of Interpol Red Notices are currently hiding in various countries.
Speaking in Parliament, the Minister said 96 of them are alleged organised criminals, with authorities having so far identified the whereabouts of 37 suspects. He said steps are underway to arrest and extradite them to Sri Lanka.
According to the Minister, over the past 20 months, Sri Lankan authorities have repatriated 58 suspects, including 23 organised criminals who were the subject of Interpol Red Notices and 35 other suspects who did not have Red Notices.
Wijepala said the 96 organised crime suspects are believed to be hiding in countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Russia, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
He noted that the locations of 37 suspects have been confirmed, including 19 in the UAE, 11 in India, and one each in Malaysia, the UK, France, Canada, Russia, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
The Minister alleged that many of these individuals continue to direct drug trafficking operations from overseas, particularly from the Middle East, and said efforts are underway to arrest and return them to Sri Lanka as soon as possible.
He added that authorities have also identified the second and third tiers of these organised criminal networks, with legal proceedings already underway, including measures to seize assets allegedly acquired through criminal activities.
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