Banged Up Abroad: Chinese Criminal Syndicate Moves Sri Lankan Group To Myawaddy

COLOMBO (News 1st); Chinese criminal syndicates involved in human trafficking have transported 20 Sri Lankans who were forcibly held in Myanmar to the town of Myawaddy.

Presently, the Sri Lankan youth are being held approximately one kilometer away from the local police station in Myawaddy.

Newsfirst has been diligently reporting on a distressing situation involving more than 50 Sri Lankan youts who are currently being held in an area controlled by an armed group along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

These individuals were initially lured to Myanmar under the false promise of IT-related employment opportunities.

Instead, they were coerced into engaging in computer crimes, subjected to various forms of torture, and exploited for criminal activities.

During our ongoing investigation and reporting, eight Sri Lankan youth who were held by force in the Myawaddy town were fortunately released.

However, nearly 50 others remain forcibly detained in two separate locations.

Specifically, 20 Sri Lankan youth are detained approximately 10 kilometers from the Myawaddy town, while the remaining 28 are held in a location at a distance of 26 kilometers.

The sudden relocation of the 20 Sri Lankans to a place within Myawaddy city raises further alarm.

Notably, the Myawaddy police station is only one kilometer away from their current location, and the transport hub for entering Thailand is also in close proximity.

Chinese criminal syndicates have been operating extensively in various regions, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where their headquarters are based.

Recent reports indicate that hundreds of individuals were arrested during a day-and-night operation, leading to the dismantling of an international cyber crime network.

Several months ago, News 1st exposed the operation of this cyber crime group that was operating from Ajman, and the person who shared secretly recorded footage of the criminal activity, was also threatened.

In Sri Lanka, similar computer crime centers associated with Chinese criminal gangs have come to light.

Recent police raids resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 foreigners who were involved in cyber crime activities.

These individuals were arrested from the Battaramulla and Negombo.

Among those apprehended, 31 Chinese nationals in Vaikkala, Negombo, have been remanded until the 5th after appearing before the Negombo Magistrate.

Investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department revealed that these foreigners had been funneling money to British, Dubai, and Indian bank accounts.

Note: News 1st's Lakmal Kirindigala contributed to this report.