Sixteen Chinese nationals have been arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police for allegedly engaging in illegal online pyramid‑style financial fraud while overstaying their visas in Sri Lanka.
According to the Lankadeepa Newspaper, the Cinnamon Gardens Police stated that, along with the suspects, the Police seized 23 laptops, 11 mobile phones, 7 routers, 9 voice converters, and 3,280 foreign cigarettes.
Per information received by the Cinnamon Gardens Police OIC, a group of Chinese nationals who had temporarily resided at addresses on Jawatta Road, Colombo 05, and Don Carolis Road were suspected of engaging in illegal activities.
Acting on this tip, a team led by the Crimes Division OIC carried out the raid.
The Police say the 16 arrested Chinese men were in possession of duty‑free cigarettes imported into the country, and further searches of their residences uncovered laptops and other equipment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that these suspects had been connected with foreign countries while residing in Sri Lanka and were deceiving various individuals through pyramid scams. (Newswire)