Twenty-two Chinese nationals have admitted to cyber-related crimes in Zambia, following their arrests in April as part of a crackdown on a sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.
The group is among 77 suspects apprehended during a raid on a Chinese-run company in Lusaka, prompted by a surge in internet fraud targeting victims worldwide.
The convicted individuals are scheduled for sentencing on Friday, according to local reports.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) noted a rise in cases where Zambians lost money through mobile and bank account scams, with schemes extending to foreign countries. Victims in Singapore, Peru, the UAE, and across Africa have also been affected by the online fraud.
The operation also led to the arrest of dozens of young Zambians recruited as call-centre agents for the scams.
After a weeks-long trial, the 22 Chinese nationals, including one woman, pleaded guilty to charges of computer-related misrepresentation, identity-related crimes, and operating an unlicensed network.
Alongside a Cameroonian national, they were charged with manipulating online identities to scam people.
The suspects held various roles in Golden Top Support Services, the company at the heart of the raid, located in Lusaka’s Roma suburb. The company has yet to respond to the allegations.
Li Xianlin, the alleged company director, was charged with operating the network without a Zambian license. On Tuesday, the state prosecutor sought to include additional details in the charges.
The Zambian nationals, charged in April and released on bail, have been assisting with investigations.
Authorities revealed they were tasked with engaging in deceptive conversations using scripted dialogues on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and chatrooms.
The raid uncovered devices for disguising caller locations and more than 13,000 local and foreign SIM cards, illustrating the operation’s scale.
Also seized were 11 SIM boxes, two firearms with 78 rounds of ammunition, and two vehicles linked to a Chinese national associated with the company.
