Italian police arrest 30 tamil rebels

ROME, June 18 (UPI) -- Italian authorities say they have arrested at least 30 suspected members of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebel group.

The arrests were made Wednesday in a series of pre-dawn raids following a two-year investigation, Voice of America reported.

The Sri Lankan suspects are accused of extorting money from fellow nationals to finance the rebel group's activities at home.

Police said about $4.5 million collected by the ring was being funneled to Sri Lanka every year to help the rebel group finance its activities, including attacks against the government and civilian targets.

Antonio Sbordone, head of the Naples counter-terrorism investigative police unit, said the Tamil organization was well structured and hierarchical with a leader in Europe and deputy bosses in various regions of Italy.