The Navy had captured a multi-day trawler engaged in a human smuggling racket carrying 20 people to Australia off the coast of Galle, Navy Media Unit said yesterday.

Naval craft on petrol had detected the illegal trawler at a distance of 120 Nautical miles while it was attempting to head towards Australia. All its occupants were taken into Naval custody and brought back to the Galle Harbour yesterday (24), a statement issued by the Navy said.

It said: "The trawler named St. Jude was owned by Warnakulasooriya Antony Fernando of Kudapaduwa, Negombo. It was manned by a crew of six led by Rathna Kumara of Negombo. The trawler had left from Negombo carrying 20 people, 16 Tamils and 04 Sinhalese, on April 22. They were from Negombo, Bangadeniya, Ratnapura and Jaffna and were attempting to illegally enter Australia in search of lucrative employment.

Upon being brought ashore, the occupants were subjected to a medical check-ups and were provided with food and refreshments. Action is under way to hand them over to the Police upon completion of the preliminary investigations by the Navy."