Kochi: Organ trade rackets too had reached Munambam, from where more than 200 people illegally fled to Australia by sea recently with the assistance of suspected human traffickers.
Most of those who left for Australia illegally by sea through Munambam were living as refugees in India.
Many of them were able to raise the amount demanded by traffickers.
Those who could not pay were not let onboard the boat. Some of them returned to New Delhi. Reports say these people were approached by organ trade agents and offered money.
A total of 230 people left the shores on the boat ‘Daya Matha’ early on January 12.
Some, who fell short of the money traffickers demanded, stayed back but sent their wives and children on the journey.
Eyewitnesses said they heard loud wails as some people boarded vehicles the previous night at a lodging facility near the Kodungallur Temple.
Traffickers dropped the plan to use two boats and left on one overloaded vessel after some had to stay back. The refugees had to dump some of their belongings on the shore to include as many people as possible. The police believe middleman Sreekanth from Thakkala is also on the boat.
Many Indian citizens are believed to be among the group.
The traffickers have their base in Java, Indonesia. It is near impossible to get to Australia or New Zealand directly from India. Hence the racket uses isolated small Indonesian islands as pit stops.
Statements taken from two returnees
The police have registered statements of two people – Deepak, 39, and Prabhu Dantawani, 31, – who could not pay the sum traffickers asked for. The were held by the police in Delhi on Friday and will be brought to Kochi soon for further investigation.
Their wives and children are on the boat that left Munambam last week. Each family had to pay Rs 5 lakh but they had only Rs 3 lakh with them. They were sent back with the promise that they would be ferried when they raise the remaining amount.
They told the police that the boat left the shore at 6am on Saturday.
Sreekanthan, Thiruvallur Ravi and Selvam took money from the refugees, who do not seem to be aware that the trip amounts to illegal immigration.
The police team that reached Ambedkar Nagar here were recording statements late on Friday night also.
