Sri Lankan authorities have intensified their crackdown on organized crime, obtaining Interpol Red Notices for 95 suspects currently hiding overseas.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) F.U. Wootler, the Police Media Spokesperson, announced the figures during a briefing on Friday. The move marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to extradite high-profile criminals involved in organized syndicates and online fraud.
- Rising Extraditions
The police confirmed that the strategy is already yielding results. In 2024, Sri Lanka successfully secured the return of 10 suspects via Interpol. This momentum continued into 2025, with a further 11 suspects brought back to face trial.
Beyond Red Notices, the government has utilized formal legal channels to bypass border hurdles. “During the 2024–2025 period, 21 suspects were extradited specifically under the Extradition Act,” SSP Wootler stated.
- Latest Breakthroughs
The briefing coincided with the arrival of three more suspects, who were escorted back to Sri Lanka today following the issuance of Red Notices.
SSP Wootler highlighted that many of these fugitives have been coordinating criminal activities—including sophisticated online scams—from safe havens abroad. He emphasized that these operations rely heavily on international cooperation.
“These operations were carried out with the strong support of the United Arab Emirates Government, including Abu Dhabi International Police, Dubai Police, and Sri Lankan diplomatic missions,” the spokesperson added.
- A Global Dragnet
Interpol Red Notices act as a global “wanted” poster, asking law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
The Sri Lankan police have signaled that they will continue to track identified criminals operating from foreign soil, particularly those involved in “organized and online crimes” that affect the country’s internal security. (Newswire)