TCI: Human Smuggler Mohan sentenced to 34 months in US Federal prison

#TurksandCaicos, May 25, 2021 – A routine detection and a routine arrest of a boat loaded with 159 illegal migrants in 2019 trying to smuggle into Turks and Caicos through Haiti and carrying Sir Lankans has ended in a 32-month prison sentence for the man behind the human smuggling operation. 

Sri Lankan born, Canadian Sri Chelliah , aka Mohan made a plea deal in February with US Authorities and a week ago he was sentenced. 

Royal TCI Police had reported that 28 Sri Lankans and one Indian were a part of Mohan’s smuggling operation in October 2019; but the trafficking had been going on for months according to reports. 

Mohan was getting the Sri Lankans to Port Au Prince, paying for their hotel and meals, getting them onto vessels into The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos and onward to the United States. 

In August last year, Mohan was extradited to the U.S. to answer to charges there. 

Police Commissioner Trevor Botting is quoted as saying, the 55-year old had been convicted of related crimes before in the United States, in 2003 and 2012. 

Chelliah was also convicted in Turks and Caicos and serving time at the time of his extradition from Grand Turk.  In around 3 years, Mohan will be released from Florida prison.