10 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Iranawila as Part of Major Online Scam Crackdown
Puttalam, Sri Lanka – October 15 (LankaXpress) : In a significant operation against online scams, Sri Lankan police have arrested 10 foreign nationals suspected of being involved in online criminal activities. The arrests took place at a hotel in Iranawila, Puttalam. The group includes four Malaysian nationals, four Ethiopian nationals, one Kenyan national, and one Chinese national.
The operation was led by local law enforcement, and Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa confirmed that numerous desktop computers and mobile phones were seized during the raid, which are believed to have been used for carrying out the scams.
This crackdown is part of a broader effort to combat the rising wave of online fraud in Sri Lanka. Nearly 210 foreigners have been arrested so far this month in connection with these illicit activities. On October 6, police arrested 30 Chinese nationals, 4 Indians, and 6 Thai nationals from two locations in Hanwella. Following this, 129 Chinese nationals were apprehended in Kundasale, Kandy, on October 7, while another 19 Chinese suspects were arrested from Nawala, and 20 more were arrested in Panadura in separate raids.
The Chinese government has since expressed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Sri Lanka in combating online fraud. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo emphasized its concern over the rising cases of fraud involving Chinese nationals, acknowledging the threat these activities pose to the safety and property of citizens in both nations. The embassy also highlighted the potential harm to China’s international image and its bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.
This wave of arrests signals Sri Lanka’s intensified efforts to curb the online scam networks operating within the country, often involving foreign nationals using advanced technology to target victims globally. Authorities have vowed to continue their operations, aiming to dismantle these criminal networks and hold those responsible accountable.