Police investigations into the intermediary 'Madam' in the Welikada OIC's Chinese passport ransom.

The Central Criminal Investigation Bureau has now expanded its investigations to arrest a key woman suspected of acting as an intermediary in connection with the alleged extortion incident involving the OIC of Welikada Police Station, which was based on the passports of nineteen Chinese nationals.

Director of the Sri Lanka Central Criminal Investigation Bureau, SP Kamal Ariyawansa, stated that although the OIC of Welikada Police Station, the main suspect in this incident, has already been arrested, the woman concerned is still evading the police. He further added that although she was previously informed to surrender, when police officers went to her house, it was closed, and she is still at large.

This woman is suspected of acting as the main coordinator between the police officer and the Chinese nationals concerned, assisting in demanding and obtaining the ransom money. According to sources, she was instructed to collect Rs. 300,000 for each passport, and accordingly, the total amount charged for 19 passports exceeds Rs. 5.7 million. Bringing this woman, who collected this enormous sum, to justice has become the primary goal of the investigators.

Previously, the OIC of Welikada Police Station was arrested in the Veyangoda area following a direct complaint received by the Inspector General of Police regarding the illegal detention of foreigners' passports. Prior to that, 92 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in online scams were arrested by the police in the Rajagiriya area, and all 92 of their passports were taken into police custody. However, it is alleged that 19 of these passports were kept in the OIC's custody for about 15 days without any official record, deviating from normal legal procedures.

Instead of following the legal immigration procedures, upon receiving information that there were plans to return these passports by obtaining bribe money through the woman concerned, the Central Criminal Investigation Bureau immediately intervened. Accordingly, the arrested OIC was remanded until June 9 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

It is reported that such frauds and rackets are prevalent in Colombo and its surrounding areas due to the lack of a proper mechanism to monitor foreigners arriving in the country. Sources indicate that many individuals arriving on tourist visas secretly engage in various illegal activities, unbeknownst to the authorities. The Chinese Embassy also confirms that it provides full support and encouragement to law enforcement agencies to arrest and deport individuals illegally staying in the country.

Experts point out that the lack of proper coordination between the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the security forces, as well as the absence of a robust mechanism to monitor the activities of foreigners after visa issuance, has facilitated such illegal activities, including cybercrimes. Since this situation poses a serious threat to national security, relevant sectors have proposed that, in addition to the responsibilities of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, the police and tri-forces intelligence units should jointly introduce a digital system for tracking foreigners, and that the process of approving business and student visas, in particular, should be further tightened.