Kochi: In a suspected case of human trafficking about 40 people, including women and children, seem to have left for Australia in fishing boats from Munambam harbour. A boat owned by a Tamilian seems to have taken them on the journey to Australia, which takes 27 days.
The coast guard has started a search for boats in the sea after police found travel bags abandoned on the shore. Initial rumours of the bags being droppings from a plane died out after the human trafficking angle was confirmed.
Some locals had found bags abandoned in a vacant plot near the boat jetty at the harbour on Saturday morning. The police inspected the bags and found dried fruits, water, flight tickets from Delhi to Kochi, garments, photos and toys in the bags. Documents from the bags showed the voyagers stayed at resorts around Kochi in groups of 10. Some had reached Kochi by air from Delhi.
Tamils and Sri Lankans have reportedly been taking illegal perilous voyage to Australia. The practice began sometime during the disturbance in Sri Lanka during the armed conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.
The police said the traffickers had international links. Feeder boats take fuel and food to the main boats in sea and bring back fish they caught. Australia has a policy of accepting illegal immigrants, which attract many such migrants.
The Intelligence Bureau has taken up the case after human trafficking was confirmed.
