(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands -August 18th, 2020) On October 10th, 2019, a sloop from Haiti carrying 158 persons was intercepted by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) Marine Branch Unit. Within this group were 28 Sri Lankan Nationals and one Indian National including a man, later identified with the assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency as Srikajamukan Chelliah who is Sri Lankan by birth, with Canadian citizenship, as the person involved in the smuggling of the Sri Lankan Nationals and the Indian National.
A People Smuggling investigation led by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force commenced. This investigation was broad in its scope, scale and complexity and included enquiries across many countries that involved a truly collaborative investigative approach between the RT&CIPF and international law enforcement partners from the UK, USA (The Department of Homeland Security), Canada (The Canada Border Services Agency and The Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and other countries within the region.
Chelliah’s arrest in the TCI and the subsequent People Smuggling investigation has led to the arrest of persons in the USA, Canada and Sri Lanka. Chelliah has been convicted twice in USA (2003 and 2012) on human smuggling charges. The TCI investigation resulted in Chelliah being charged with Illegal Entry and Assisting Illegal Entry. He appeared before the TCI Chief Magistrate on June 2nd, 2020 where he pleaded guilty and sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.
Having served his sentence and awaiting deportation to Canada, an extradition request was received from the USA for Chelliah’s arrest in connection with smuggling people into the USA. He was arrested on July 28th, 2020 on a Provisional Warrant in connection with the extradition request. On Monday, August 10th, 2020 his extradition process concluded with consent.
On August 17th, 2020 Chelliah was flown to the US from the TCI. Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting said,“This investigation was one of, if not the largest and most complex, criminal investigations ever undertaken by the RT&CIPF. People trafficking and people smuggling remains a key priority for the RT&CIPF and within the TCI National Security Strategy. We remained committed and determined to bring those involved in this criminality to justice and stop the scourge of people trafficking and smuggling. This investigation has shown the strong collaborative links with partner law enforcement agencies from the UK, US, Canada and across the region. Through working closely together, we will identify and bring to justice those involved. There remains an active criminal investigation in the TCI into people trafficking and those involved should know that we will continue to investigate their criminality. I must pay tribute to Acting Superintendent Willet Harvey who has led this investigation. His leadership and professionalism played a key role in the success of this investigation on the TCI”.