Customs officers at the Katunayake Airport arrested three Chinese nationals on Tuesday (19) while attempting to smuggle in a large stock of mobile phones and batteries suspected to be intended for cybercrime activities.

Officials said mobile phones valued at Rs. 5,140,000 and 140 batteries were seized during the operation. 

The suspects, a 34‑year‑old woman and two men aged 35, were apprehended while trying to move the items illegally through the Green Channel.

Customs inspections revealed several phones hidden inside a suspicious bag among toffees and chocolates, while further searches uncovered more devices concealed in a specially prepared jacket worn under clothing. 

Additional phones were found hidden in the soles of the woman’s shoes and inside the travel bag of the other male passenger.

In total, 87 mobile phones and 140 batteries were recovered. The suspects have been handed over to the Police for further investigation. (Newswire)

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Seventy‑four (74) Vietnamese nationals arrested in Sri Lanka for alleged online financial fraud have been revealed to be individuals previously deported from Cambodia over similar cybercrimes, the Colpetty Police told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (15).

Reporting before Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, the Police said the suspects had violated visa conditions while residing in Sri Lanka. 

It was further disclosed that their wages had been paid by a Sri Lankan woman, who claimed the funds were sent by an unknown individual.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the group remain in remand custody until May 21. (Newswire)

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The Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the equipment seized from Chinese nationals involved in cybercrimes in Sri Lanka be handed over to an authorised official of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo.

Teldeniya Magistrate Devika Chathurangani Jayawardena issued the order yesterday, instructing that all equipment, including mobile phones and computers that had been in the custody of the Court, be handed over to the Chinese Embassy official. 

Presenting a motion to the court, officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had requested the court to issue the said order. 

Following the court order, the Chinese suspects were moved to the Welisara Detention Centre yesterday, after which they are to be deported from Sri Lanka. 

A total of 130 Chinese suspects, including 108 Chinese men and 22 Chinese women, were arrested while staying at a star hotel in Kundasale, Kandy and were produced before the Teldeniya Magistrates’ Court.

Thereafter, the Teldeniya Court had seized 206 mobile phones, 121 laptops and other computer equipment in their possession.

However, yesterday, Teldeniya Magistrate Devika Chathurangani Jayawardena ordered that all of these devices be handed over to a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo through officers of the CID.

Meanwhile, seven of these Chinese suspects had evaded the Teldeniya Court on three occasions, due to which the court had issued arrest warrants for them.

The remaining 122 Chinese national suspects were handed over to the Welisara Detention Centre yesterday following an extradition order by the Teldeniya Court.

It is reported that the group, excluding the seven suspects who have evaded court, will be deported from Sri Lanka in the coming days.

It is reported that 85 of the Chinese suspects were deported from Sri Lanka this morning.

According to media reports, the group had been taken to the Katunayake Airport in 05 buses and were deported to Guangzhou, China on a special Sri Lankan Airlines flight this morning. (Newswire)

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Twenty (20) Sri Lankans, who were trafficked for forced criminal activities in cyber scamming compounds in Myanmar, have been rescued, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. 

Issuing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said following repeated appeals to the Government of Myanmar and neighbouring countries, 20 Sri Lankans who were victims of human trafficking and stranded in Myanmar had been rescued and had safely arrived in Mae Sot, Thailand, on Wednesday (Aug 14).

The Foreign Ministry further said that the Sri Lanka Ambassador in Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe visited Mae Sot today and met with the rescued Sri Lankans and inquired into their welfare. 

The Sri Lanka Missions in Yangon and Bangkok have been working closely to ensure the safe release and well-being of the victims. All the rescued Sri Lankans are in good health, and Thai authorities are facilitating Consular assistance. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangkok is coordinating with Thai authorities to take necessary measures to repatriate the rescued Sri Lankans.    

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is also working through the Sri Lankan Missions in Yangon and Bangkok to rescue the remaining 34 Sri Lankans stranded in the Myawaddy area of Myanmar at present.

These Sri Lankans who had travelled to Myanmar seeking foreign employment, without following the proper procedures for overseas employment and using tourist visas, had been lured into cybercriminal operations and became victims of human trafficking.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the public to be cautious and to adhere to the proper procedures when pursuing employment opportunities abroad, so as not to fall victim to human trafficking. (Newswire)

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