Cinnamon Gardens Police arrest 16 Chinese pyramid scheme operators

Sixteen Chinese nationals, who were allegedly involved in illegal online pyramid schemes while staying in Sri Lanka in violation of visa regulations, were arrested yesterday (23) by the Kurunduwatta Police.

This group had been temporarily residing a few days ago at a location on Don Carolis Avenue, Jawatta Road, Colombo 05. This operation was launched based on information received by the Kurunduwatta Police Station OIC, Chief Police Inspector H. H. Sujeewa Kumara, that some illegal activity was taking place at the said location. Accordingly, a team including the OIC of the Criminal Investigation Division, Police Inspector Wickramarathne, carried out the raid.

During the raid, 3,280 foreign cigarettes, illegally imported into the country, were taken into police custody from the suspects. Additionally, during further searches of the accommodation, investigating officers found 23 laptop computers, 11 mobile phones, 07 internet routers, and 09 voice translation devices that were used for their illegal activities.

Preliminary police investigations have confirmed that these Chinese national suspects, aged between 23 and 40, conducted these financial frauds by maintaining connections with foreign countries from Sri Lanka and deceiving various individuals. The arrested individuals are scheduled to be produced before the court.