In a significant crackdown on international banking fraud, Sri Lankan police have arrested more than 230 Chinese men accused of targeting foreign banks in a series of online scams, according to a statement from Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on Tuesday. The arrests were made with the assistance of a working group of security officials sent by Beijing.
Over the past week, police conducted raids that led to the seizure of 250 computers and 500 mobile phones allegedly used in the scams. Authorities are currently investigating the extent of the financial losses incurred by the victims, with a focus on foreign banks and financial institutions as the primary targets of the criminal operations.
The most substantial operation occurred on Saturday, resulting in the apprehension of 126 Chinese nationals, along with two individuals from Vietnam, and one each from Thailand and the Philippines.
China’s embassy in Colombo confirmed the deployment of security officials to support the Sri Lankan police, emphasizing their commitment to combating cybercrime. “A large number of criminal suspects were arrested,” the embassy noted, indicating that efforts for repatriation and further legal proceedings are ongoing.
Sri Lanka’s advanced telecommunications infrastructure, highlighted by the early adoption of a 5G network in April 2019, has made it an attractive location for cybercriminal activities. The embassy suggested that recent crackdowns on cybercriminals in China may have driven some individuals to seek illicit opportunities abroad.
In a related development, Sri Lankan authorities arrested approximately 200 suspects in June, predominantly from India, who were also linked to online financial fraud.
As investigations continue, the Sri Lankan government is working closely with Chinese officials to enhance law enforcement cooperation, aiming to prevent future cybercrime incidents and safeguard the integrity of international banking systems.
