In a significant move against transnational organized crime, Sri Lanka has deported 85 Chinese nationals who were convicted of various offenses, including large-scale cybercrimes. The mass deportation, which took place on Friday, June 20th, involved a carefully coordinated operation that saw the convicted individuals sent back to China on a special charter flight.
The deported individuals were part of a larger group of approximately 130 Chinese nationals arrested in October 2024 in Kundasale, Kandy. They were found to be operating an illegal cyber operation, primarily engaging in online financial fraud targeting foreign nationals. Following their arrests, a substantial amount of electronic equipment, including over 200 mobile phones and more than 100 laptops, was seized, which a local court has ordered to be handed over to Chinese authorities.
Sources at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) confirmed that the 85 individuals had been serving jail terms and were held at the Immigration Department’s Detention Centre in Welisara prior to their deportation.
Under tight security, they were transported in five buses to the airport and boarded a SriLankan Airlines flight bound for Guangzhou, China. The operation involved over 250 police personnel, along with officials from the Immigration and Emigration Department and SriLankan Airlines security.
This deportation marks one of the largest single-group expulsions from Sri Lanka in recent years and underscores the nation’s commitment to combating cybercrime. Officials stated that the deportation was conducted in full compliance with judicial orders and immigration protocols, sending a strong message against foreign nationals engaging in organized criminal activities within Sri Lankan territory.
The arrests in October came after intelligence pointed to a sophisticated online scamming network. The Chinese Embassy in Colombo had previously indicated that Beijing’s ongoing crackdown on cybercriminals within China might be prompting some to seek operations abroad. This incident highlights the growing global challenge of cybercrime and the need for international cooperation to dismantle such networks.
While 85 individuals have been deported, a smaller number from the original group of 130 remain in Sri Lanka, awaiting further legal proceedings. This crackdown by Sri Lankan authorities demonstrates a firm resolve to safeguard its digital landscape and prevent its territory from being used as a base for international criminal enterprises.
