Italian LTTE smuggling network busted

NAPLES, Italy, June 19 (UPI) -- Italian authorities have arrested 33 members of Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam terrorist group for an alleged money smuggling scheme.

Officials broke up an LTTE operation in Italy that allegedly was smuggling funds for terrorist operations in Sri Lanka. Authorities arrested 33 suspects in several Italian cities including Naples, Palermo and Rome.

Officials say more than $6.9 million had been deposited in Swiss banks largely from extortion and drug sales, the Sri Lankan government reported.

The Tamil population in Italy brought complaints of harassment by LTTE militants to the Italian police, who began an investigation two years ago. Officials say a "network of Italy-based Tamil Tigers extorted money from the Tamil ethnic population in Italy, demanding monthly payments and threatening with retaliatory steps if the monthly payments were missed," the release said.

The suspects arrested in the LTTE network have been charged with allegations of being in an international terrorist organization and for crimes of extortion.