Sri Lankan law enforcement has carried out a significant operation targeting suspected cybercriminal activity, arresting 37 foreign nationals in a coordinated raid that highlights the country’s growing concerns over transnational digital crime. The arrests, made on May 2 in the suburban area of Thalangama, mark another major development in a series of crackdowns on foreign-linked cybercrime rings operating within the island nation.
The suspects, comprising 36 men and one woman, are all believed to be Chinese nationals aged between 23 and 44. They were apprehended during a joint operation conducted by officers from the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit and the Thalangama Police. Authorities described the raid as intelligence-driven, suggesting that the location had been under surveillance prior to the arrests.
Following their detention, the suspects were transported to the Thalangama Police Station, where preliminary questioning began. Investigators are now working to determine the full scope of the group’s alleged activities, including whether they were part of a larger organized network operating across borders.
Police sources indicated that early findings point to the use of the premises as a base for computer-related crimes, although specific details about the nature of those activities have not yet been publicly disclosed. The suspects have been arrested under the provisions of Sri Lanka’s Computer Crimes Act, which enables authorities to investigate offenses involving unauthorized access, fraud, and other forms of digital crime.
During the operation, officers also uncovered immigration-related violations among the group. Two individuals were found to be residing in the country without valid visas, while another suspect did not possess a passport. These findings have added an additional legal dimension to the case, with immigration authorities expected to be drawn into the investigation as it progresses.
In a separate development, police seized 2,100 illegal cigarettes from one of the suspects. While not directly linked to cybercrime, the discovery has raised suspicions about possible involvement in other illicit activities and has broadened the scope of the inquiry.
The building where the suspects had been residing has since been sealed and placed under police protection. Investigators are expected to conduct detailed forensic examinations of the site, focusing on electronic devices, communications equipment, and digital storage systems that may reveal the scale and sophistication of the alleged operation.
