Australia notes people smuggling rise from Sri Lanka

16/10/2008 12:53:24

The Australian Federal Police says there has been a significant rise in attempted people smuggling operations from Sri Lanka.

The AFP's annual report says it continues to work actively with police agencies in other countries to "disrupt" people smuggling operations.

It says in the past financial year, the AFP office in Jakarta along with other government agencies worked with Indonesian authorities to prevent several people smuggling ventures.

It says these disruption activities in Indonesia continue to be effective.

The report also states that there has been a significant increase in organised people smuggling by Sri Lankan nationals, both by sea and air.

The report says disrupting those activities has been the major focus of its people smuggling strike team over the year.

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network