Twenty-two Chinese nationals have pleaded guilty to cyber-related crimes in Zambia, marking a significant development in a case involving a “sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.” They are part of a larger group of 77 suspects arrested in April during a crackdown on fraudulent activities linked to a Chinese-run company in Lusaka.
The arrests came in response to a troubling increase in internet fraud cases in Zambia, affecting individuals globally. The 22 accused are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, according to local media reports.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) noted that Zambians have been increasingly targeted by money-laundering schemes, with victims reporting losses from their mobile and bank accounts. Countries including Singapore, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates have also seen their citizens affected by these scams.
In addition to the Chinese nationals, several young Zambians were arrested for allegedly working as call-center agents in the fraudulent operation. These individuals engaged in deceptive conversations using scripted dialogues across platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
The 22 Chinese nationals, including one female, were charged with three offenses: computer-related misrepresentation, identity-related crimes, and illegally operating a network or service. They were accused of manipulating identities online to perpetrate scams.
The group was linked to Golden Top Support Services, the company at the center of the investigation, located in Roma, an affluent suburb of Lusaka. Li Xianlin, believed to be the director of the company, faced additional charges for operating the network without a license from Zambian authorities.
Authorities confiscated significant evidence during the raid, including devices that allowed callers to disguise their locations, over 13,000 SIM cards, and 11 SIM boxes used to route calls. Additionally, two firearms and about 78 rounds of ammunition were seized, along with vehicles linked to a Chinese national associated with the operation.