November 03, Colombo (LNW): Police have taken 21 foreign nationals into custody following a raid on a building in Maradana, where an alleged online scam operation was being conducted.
The arrests were carried out jointly by the Central Criminal Investigation Bureau (CCIB), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and immigration authorities at a three-storey premises near Technical Junction.
According to Sri Lanka Police, those detained comprise 12 Chinese nationals, including two women, six Bangladeshi nationals and three Indian nationals. Preliminary findings also indicate that the suspects had been residing in Sri Lanka without valid visas.
Investigators are now working to establish the nature and scale of the suspected fraudulent activities, including how the operation was organised and whether it was connected to a wider international network.
Authorities are also expected to examine the activities conducted from the premises and determine whether additional individuals were involved in facilitating the alleged scams.
The investigation is being conducted under the instructions of Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, with oversight from Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranmal Kodituwakku.
All 21 suspects are due to be presented before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today (3 November), as investigations into the alleged operation continue.
