Colombo — Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 173 Indian nationals among nearly 200 foreigners in a sweeping crackdown on suspected cybercrime operations, police said on Tuesday, marking one of the country’s largest coordinated enforcement actions in recent months.
A total of 198 foreign nationals — including 173 Indians and 25 Nepali citizens — were detained late Monday in the southern coastal tourist hubs of Galle, Hikkaduwa, and Midigama, areas popular with international visitors.
Police said those arrested are believed to be between 25 and 35 years old. They face multiple allegations, including overstaying tourist visas, illegally taking up employment, possession of duty-free cigarettes, and involvement in activities linked to cybercrime offences under Sri Lankan law.
Authorities said the operation is part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on foreign-linked cybercrime networks allegedly operating from within the island nation under the guise of tourism.
The latest arrests follow a similar raid last week in which 250 Chinese nationals were detained on comparable charges, underscoring what officials describe as a widening transnational enforcement effort.
According to police data, 628 foreign nationals have been arrested in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the year in connection with suspected cybercrime-related activity conducted while they were temporarily based in the country. Those detained include citizens from India, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Law enforcement officials say the groups are often linked to broader international syndicates that use digital platforms and communications infrastructure to target victims overseas. Investigators have raised concerns that Sri Lanka’s relatively open visa regime and strong connectivity infrastructure may be inadvertently facilitating such operations.
Authorities also allege that some suspects entered the country on short-term tourist visas before overstaying and becoming involved in illicit online activity.
The arrests come as Sri Lanka steps up scrutiny of foreign visitors following a series of coordinated raids aimed at dismantling cyber fraud networks believed to operate across multiple Asian jurisdictions.
Officials say investigations are ongoing, and further arrests are possible as authorities trace connections between suspects and larger international cybercrime rings.
