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The involvement of the head of the LTTE Finance Division and members of his family in a massive racket in human cargo trafficking has been uncovered by law enforcement authorities. Visendrarajan and his family members, share holders of two shipping companies registered in Sri Lanka and England have purchased six ships. Investigators suspect that these ships have been utilised for gun running and transporting shipments of armaments to the LTTE. Investigations revealed that they have sent 17,000 persons abroad to about 11 countries last year alone on forged passports after charging enormous fees from them and that these persons are now languishing in detention camps in those countries. They have earned Rs. 20,000 to 25,000 million last year from this illegal trade with the assistance of six companies owned by Visendrarajan. Nearly 190 million dollars of the money earned from this racket had been remitted abroad through two private banks by way of 18,000 US dollar travelers cheques drawn in favour of the names of Tamils every other day. Investigations are now in progress to find out whether their had been other modus operandi used by these racketeers to remit money abroad. Visendrarajan was arrested in December 1998, but was released following a fundamental rights application made to the Supreme Court. Two persons named Wahid and Illyas alias 'Dida' had been aiding and abetting Visendrarajan in this racket for a long time. Wahid was taken into custody nby police last week following the uncovering of another racket involving them. Investigations revealed that Visendrarajan and Wahid had imported 1,800 metric tons of gold illegally during the last one and a half years. This is two and a half times bigger than the countries annual utilisation of gold which is only 700 metric tons. The two have cheated the Inland Revenue Department to the tune of Rs. 22 million by saying that they have re-exported this gold, but according to evidence they have never done so. Investigations have also revealed that certain politicians and top officials, too have had a hand in this racket. It was also revealed that these suspects are making a desperate bid to sweep this racket under the carpet with the connivance of these politicians and officials.
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