60 Indians held in Lanka for cyber scams

At least 60 Indian nationals, part of a group alleged to be engaged in online financial scams, have been arrested by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

They were arrested on Thursday from the Colombo suburbs of Madiwela and Battaramulla and the western coastal town of Negombo.

 

According to Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the CID conducted simultaneous raids in these areas, leading to the seizure of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops.

 

The crackdown follows a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group in which cash was promised for social media interactions.

 

Investigation revealed a scheme in which victims were coerced into making deposits after initial payments. In Peradeniya, a father-son duo admitted to aiding the fraudsters, Daily Mirror Lanka newspaper reported, according to PTI.

 

Key evidence uncovered during a luxury house raid in Negombo led to the initial arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of 57 phones and computers.

 

Subsequent operations in Negombo yielded 19 additional arrests, exposing international links in Dubai and Afghanistan. Victims included both locals and foreigners, the report added.

 

It is suspected that they were involved in financial fraud, illegal betting and various activities of gambling.