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Sri Lanka arrests more than 260 foreigners over cyberscams
Colombo - The Sri Lankan authorities arrested 30 Chinese and Vietnamese nationals on May 7 in the latest crackdown on cyberscams, raising the number detained since the weekend to 261, police said. The latest arrests were made in Werahera, a suburb of the capital, police said, adding that 74 Vietnamese nationals arrested elsewhere in the capital on May 6 were remanded in custody until May 14.Crime groups around the world have carried out online scams, defrauding victims of tens of billions of dollars annually, often through cryptocurrency fraud and fake romantic relationships.In Sri Lanka, the authorities cracked down on two suspected cyberscam centres on May 3, arresting a total of 157 people.“They had entered the country on tourist visas and were illegally employed, while some had overstayed their visas,” police spokesman Frederick Wootler said.A Colombo magistrate ordered a forensic examination of computers and mobile phones seized from the alleged scam centre in Colombo’s Kollupitiya area, where the 74 Vietnamese nationals were arrested on May 6.The suspects were aged between 19 and 39, police said, adding that most had overstayed their visas.The arrests came a month after 152 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were detained for allegedly running a cyberscam operation from a hotel in the island’s northwest.The immigration authorities arrested 135 Chinese men and women in March for allegedly operating a similar scam. They have since been deported.Beijing’s embassy in Colombo said at the time that it was working closely with local authorities to prevent Chinese nationals from engaging in scam operations in Sri Lanka.The embassy said Sri Lanka’s telecommunications infrastructure, favourable geographical location and relatively lenient visa policies had encouraged fraud gangs to move to the South Asian nation.In 2024, the Sri Lankan authorities detained 230 Chinese nationals and 200 Indians accused of operating cybercrime centres in various parts of the island. AFP
Sri Lanka Arrests 231 Foreigners Over Cyberscams
May 7, 2026 People in Jail. Credit: Verywell Mind. No fewer than 231 foreigners have been arrested by the police in Sri Lanka for cybercrime, following raids on suspected cyberscam centres in the capital since the weekend. Officials said most of the foreigners who were arrested are Chinese and Vietnamese nationals. Authorities raked down on two suspected cyber scam centres on Sunday, arresting a total of 157 people. 74 others were arrested on Wednesday. Police spokesman Frederick Wootler said the suspects had entered the country on tourist visas and were illegally employed, while some had overstayed their visas. A Colombo magistrate ordered a forensic examination of computers and mobile phones seized from the alleged scam centre in Colombo’s Kollupitiya area on Wednesday. AFP reported that the computer and communications equipment found with the suspects arrested on Sunday had already been sent for analysis. South Sudan media fret over cybersecurity law.Credit: Euro-Med Human Rights. These arrests follow the April 2026 arrest of 152 foreigners, who were detained for allegedly running a cyber scam operation out of a hotel in Sri Lanka’s northwest. No fewer than 135 Chinese nationals were also arrested in March 2026 for allegedly running a similar scam operation. They were, however, deported. Beijing’s embassy in Colombo said at the time that it was working closely with local authorities to prevent Chinese nationals from engaging in scam operations in Sri Lanka. The embassy said Sri Lanka’s telecommunications infrastructure, favourable geographical location and relatively lenient visa policies had encouraged fraud gangs to move to the South Asian nation. Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling. She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards. Share the Story arrestCybercrimeSri Lanka Read more
Indians among over 600 foreigners arrested for cybercrime in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan police have arrested over 600 foreigners, including Indian nationals, for cybercrime this year. Most of the arrested individuals were tourist visa overstayers, apprehended in popular Colombo suburbs. Authorities urge the public to report tenants to aid security efforts against these international syndicates.
Sri Lanka Arrests Over 260 Foreign Nationals in Massive Cybercrime ...
Sri Lanka has launched one of its biggest cybercrime operations after police arrested more than 260 foreign nationals accused of running online scam networks from Colombo and nearby areas.