[International] Following Cambodia and Myanmar, Sri Lanka Becomes a New Hub for Chinese Cross-Border Scams
bellala 央廣4h ago
As Southeast Asian countries vigorously crack down on cross-border online scam parks, criminal groups with Chinese backgrounds have rapidly shifted their bases. Nikkei Asia reported on the 24th that Sri Lanka has recently been identified by international law enforcement and anti-crime experts as a growing hub for transnational online scams and online gambling groups, gradually replacing Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. As of this year, local law enforcement agencies have detained over 700 foreign nationals suspected of engaging in online scam activities, a significant increase compared to last year.
The report indicates that since the beginning of this year, police, immigration agencies, and military intelligence departments have conducted multiple joint raids in the capital Colombo and other towns, uncovering several suspected online scam bases. In mid-June, law enforcement officers detained 18 Chinese nationals during a nighttime raid on a suspected scam site in Colombo; another raid in the suburbs in May arrested 37 Chinese citizens, including one woman.
Sri Lankan police spokesperson and Assistant Superintendent Fredrick Wootler stated that online fraud cases are increasing at a worrying rate, and the police have launched searches on relevant buildings, urging the public to be vigilant. He also revealed that over 700 foreign nationals have been detained this year for suspected involvement in online scams, compared to 430 arrests for the entire year of 2024, indicating a rapid expansion of the problem.
Smuggling telecommunications equipment and increased foreign criminal activity are evident.
In addition to Chinese nationals, arrestees also include citizens from India, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines, indicating a highly transnational nature of these criminal networks.
In April of this year, Sri Lankan customs at the local airport intercepted 9 Chinese nationals suspected of smuggling a large quantity of electronic communication equipment, seizing 383 used mobile phones, 101 tablet computers, and 6 Wi-Fi routers. Police suspect these devices were intended for setting up scam centers.
Mahil Dole, former head of the counter-terrorism department at Sri Lanka's State Intelligence Service, stated that Sri Lanka is facing a new type of transnational organized crime threat. These criminal groups are rapidly expanding by exploiting digital technology, regulatory loopholes, lax systems, and outdated laws. If effective measures are not taken promptly, Sri Lanka may not only become a victim of cybercrime but also a significant operational hub for international digital crime groups.
Instability in Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar accelerates the shift of scam groups.
Jason Tower, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, stated: Following the Philippine government's large-scale crackdown on scam centers and its promotion of a ban on offshore gambling in 2023, a large number of people involved in related gray industries began seeking new locations. Concurrently, Sri Lanka adopted a more open attitude towards the online gambling industry, thus attracting a large number of related operators and personnel. By 2024, thousands of individuals previously active in the Philippines had relocated to Sri Lanka.
He further added that this wave of relocation became more pronounced in the latter half of 2025. Due to the unstable border situation between Thailand and Myanmar/Cambodia, more online scam parks originally located in border areas of Southeast Asia are seeking new bases, with Sri Lanka becoming a significant option, including Chinese-backed scam and online gambling groups that were previously active in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Jeremy Douglas, Deputy Director of Operations at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), pointed out that China has been actively cooperating with various countries in Asia to combat scam criminal groups in recent years. However, the high mobility and rapid adaptability of these organizations pose significant challenges to law enforcement efforts.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=216467
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