Sri Lanka Arrests 152 in Alleged Chinese-Run Cyberscam Operation

Apr 3, 2026

Sri Lankan police arrested 152 foreign nationals, predominantly Chinese citizens, during a Friday raid on an alleged cyberscam operation based in a hotel in Chilaw, a coastal town 80 kilometers north of Colombo. The operation, conducted following a tip-off, represents one of the largest organized cybercrime busts in the region according to police spokesman Frederick Wootler. Two Chinese men attempted to escape during the raid. Authorities plan to prosecute those directly involved in scamming under Sri Lankan criminal law, while some arrested individuals may face deportation.

Police raid and arrests of foreign nationals in Chilaw

▪The alleged cyberscam operation was run out of a hotel in northwest Sri Lanka.
▪Police in Sri Lanka arrested 152 foreign nationals on Friday for allegedly running a cyberscam operation.
▪The raid took place in the coastal town of Chilaw, 80km north of Colombo.
▪The 152 arrested foreign nationals were mostly Chinese.
▪The Sri Lanka police raid in Chilaw followed a tip-off.
▪Two Chinese men tried to escape during the Sri Lanka police raid.
▪Frederick Wootler is a police spokesman in Sri Lanka.

Legal proceedings and potential deportation of suspects

▪Some of the arrested foreign nationals in the Sri Lanka cyberscam case could be deported.
▪Those involved in scamming in the Sri Lanka cyberscam operation will be dealt with under Sri Lankan criminal law.

Perspective of Sri Lanka Police

▪Sri Lanka police acted on intelligence tip-offs to conduct the raid on the alleged cyberscam operation in Chilaw.
▪The Sri Lanka police raid in Chilaw represents one of the largest busts of organized cybercrime operations in the region.

Perspective of Chinese nationals arrested in Sri Lanka

▪The 152 arrested foreign nationals in Sri Lanka face either criminal prosecution or deportation depending on their involvement.
▪Two Chinese men among the 152 arrested foreign nationals attempted to flee during the police raid in Chilaw.