Zambia Cracks Down on Cybercrime: 22 Chinese Nationals Jailed

A Zambian court has sentenced 22 Chinese nationals to prison for cybercrimes, including internet fraud targeting Zambians and other people globally. The court issued sentences ranging from 7 to 11 years and imposed fines between $1,500 to $3,000. The arrests stemmed from a sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.

A Zambian court on Friday sentenced 22 Chinese nationals to prison for their involvement in cybercrimes, including internet fraud and online scams that targeted individuals in Zambia, Singapore, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Magistrates Court in Lusaka handed down prison terms ranging from 7 to 11 years and fines between $1,500 and $3,000 after the defendants pleaded guilty to computer-related misrepresentation, identity fraud, and illegally operating a network or service on Wednesday. A Cameroonian man received a similar sentence and fine.

The convicted individuals were part of a larger group of 77 people, primarily Zambians, arrested in April as part of a crackdown on what police described as a "sophisticated internet fraud syndicate."

Nason Banda, director-general of the Drug Enforcement Commission, stated that investigations commenced after a surge in cyber-related fraud cases and numerous complaints about unexpected monetary losses from mobile phones or bank accounts.

In a coordinated raid in April, officers from various agencies, including the police, immigration department, and anti-terrorism unit, targeted a Chinese-run business in Lusaka's affluent suburb, resulting in the arrest of the 77 individuals. Authorities seized over 13,000 local and foreign SIM cards, two firearms, and 78 rounds of ammunition during the raid.

The business, Golden Top Support Services, had employed "unsuspecting" Zambian youths aged between 20 and 25 to use the SIM cards for deceptive conversations on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and chat rooms, according to Banda. The Zambian locals were later released on bail.

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