Organized Crime

COLOMBO (AFP) ” Police in Sri Lanka have arrested 100 Chinese nationals for an online currency fraud scam in a string of night-time raids in and around the capital Colombo, according to officials.



The arrests come as China has been investing heavily in the tropical island nation as it enlarges its presence in South Asia.

"They have defrauded their countrymen by making them... transfer money to accounts maintained in Sri Lanka in the names of those arrested," Prishantha Jayakodi, a senior superintendent, told AFP on Saturday.

Police said that the 74 men and 26 women were arrested on Friday night at their residences in the capital or in the surrounding areas following a court order.

They are due to be produced in court later on Saturday.

Thousands of Chinese work in Chinese-funded development projects across the island.

Many more arrive on tourist visas and work in the hospitality industry.

"The fraud-affected people (live) in China," Jayakodi said. "The fraud was carried out in Sri Lanka through the Internet.

"