A violent gang war in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port City has sparked a major criminal investigation, exposing potential links to a transnational cyber fraud network tied to Chinese organised crime syndicates.A Chinese national who was abducted and later found dead was identified as an individual allegedly connected to computer fraud activities, reported Sri Lanka’s News 1st. The incident has put the spotlight back on Chinese criminal networks active in the China-built port city, highlighting also the pitfalls of Chinese investment and development.According to local media reports, three Chinese nationals engaging in fishing on a port city suspension bridge were ambushed by around 20 Chinese men. The attackers threatened the victims with firearms, severely assaulted them, and abducted all three. Two victims were later discovered tied up inside an abandoned van within the city, while the third was taken away. Hours later, the third victim’s body was found blindfolded.Police revealed that the Chinese nationals involved were not lawfully employed in Sri Lanka. Following an investigation, said the News 1st report, officers attached to the Colombo Crimes Division intercepted two Chinese suspects at Bandaranaike International Airport as they allegedly attempted to board a flight to Singapore. Meanwhile, a special security operation has been launched by local authorities to ensure the safety of Chinese residents across Colombo, according to the news report.This case highlights a broader trend across Sri Lanka, where authorities have arrested numerous foreign nationals operating scam centres —including “pig butchering” investment schemes. Investigators suspect that recent international crackdowns across Dubai, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia have pushed elements of these Chinese Triad-linked crime networks into Sri Lanka, transforming the island nation into an emerging operational front for global cybercrime syndicates.
