It was reported that the raid in Kaluwamodara, Aluthgama to arrest 39 Chinese nationals, including three wanted suspects, was organized by the Chinese Police through the Chinese Embassy.

State-owned Dinamina newspaper reported that a group of officials of the Chinese Police attached to the Interpol have arrived in the country to conduct the raid along with the Chinese Embassy.

According to police, 33 men, five women, and a small child were among those taken into custody.

Six Chinese nationals, including the three wanted suspects on red notice, have been subjected to strict supervision and questioning by the officials of the Chinese Embassy.

They have been accused of large scale financial fraud in China.

Six of the suspects have said during interrogation that they were forcibly detained in Sri Lanka.

These 39 Chinese nationals have been staying in the tourist resort for about 6 months on tourist visas.

A senior police officer said that it appears that these Chinese nationals were brought to Sri Lanka in an organized manner and were given laptops and mobile phones to get them involved in online scams.

According to the information received by the Chinese Embassy, this scam was operated by another group of Chinese nationals.

The suspects had in their possession 40 laptop computers, 120 mobile phones and several other computer accessories.

At the time of arrest, the suspects did not even have any passports. Investigations revealed that those who operated the scam may have kept the passports with them.

Source – Dinamina