Police said Nallathambi (35) of Vavuniya in Sri Lanka, who had been lodged at Gummudipoondi Refugee camp, had managed to escape from there a few days ago and allegedly made arrangements for 80 Lankan refugees to flee to Australia in an illegal ferry.
Mangalore police officials, who received a tip-off regarding his visit to Mangalore, tried to nab him, but he gave them the slip and reached Pamban Kundhukal, near here.
However, he was arrested today when he tried to escape to Sri Lanka, from here in a boat.