“Sri Lankan war veterans to fight as mercenaries in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine” is the name of a human trafficking ring that was busted by police.
According to local media, Sri Lanka has detained two ex-army personnel, one of whom is a general, for enlisting with the Russian military during the conflict with Ukraine.
The Newswire website said on Thursday that police in the island nation in South Asia had uncovered a human trafficking ring that was using “Sri Lankan war veterans to fight as mercenaries in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”
The suspects, ages 67 and 50, were taken into custody by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), with the retired army major general believed to be the racket’s mastermind.
The two live in North Western Province’s capital, Kurunegala.
This occurred one day after four arrests in a related case were made in neighboring India.
Members of mercenary groups
Due to their suspected involvement in a related human trafficking investigation, the CID had made two arrests last month, one of which was a retired major general of the army.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has resulted in the deaths or injuries of multiple Sinhala combat veterans, according to confirmation from Sri Lanka’s Defense Ministry.
They were brought in to serve as mercenary soldiers.
Numerous Nepalese nationals have lost their lives in the conflict, and similar occurrences have also been reported in India.
Since February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have been at war, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.
Thousands upon thousands of people have been compelled to leave Ukraine.
Many nationalities have enlisted in the opposing armies throughout this conflict.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
