COLOMBO, July 18: Sri Lankan police on Friday arrested 112 Indians and six Pakistanis who had arrived in the island to travel illegally to Europe, officials said.

Police spokesman Rienzie Perera said most of the men did not have proper travel documents and they were being questioned.

“We have taken into custody 112 Indians and six Pakistan nationals from two hotels and a home in the Tissamaharama area” 270 kilometres south of Colombo, Mr Perera said.

Police believe the men had arrived in the island recently to take an illegal ferry to Italy.

The arrests came two days after a local magistrate remanded in custody for two weeks 254 Pakistan men in connection with a major people-smuggling racket.

Sri Lankan fishermen are known to operate modified fishing trawlers that take would-be illegal immigrants on a three-week journey to the Red Sea from where they are transferred to rogue ships. The larger vessels, mostly from former Soviet republics, then carry the illegal immigrants to European shores. Those who complete the hazardous trips are often detained or turned back on arrival.

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