An ex-Army Major General has been arrested for trafficking ex-military personnel to the Russian-Ukrainian war front.
The retired Major General, along with a former Army Sergeant, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly trafficking ex-military personnel to conflict zones in Ukraine.
Police said that the arrests took place in the Kurunegala area as part of extensive operations conducted by the CID, Police, and Intelligence agencies to crackdown on illegal human traffickers. These traffickers are accused of sending retired war veterans to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as mercenaries.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has issued warnings about the dangers faced by Sri Lankan war veterans who have been lured into joining mercenary groups under false promises of benefits like citizenship, salaries, and other perks. Many of these veterans have reportedly suffered injuries or lost their lives in the conflict, with no compensation or support provided to them or their families by the traffickers.
The MOD emphasized that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in illegal human smuggling activities. Recently, the CID also arrested two suspects operating a foreign employment agency in Kadawatha for trafficking 55 Sri Lankans to conflict zones in Ukraine.
