Police have stepped up their crackdown on organised crime, after securing Interpol Red Notices for 95 suspects believed to be hiding overseas.

Police Spokesman SSP F. U. Wootler told a media briefing yesterday that the move marked a major escalation in efforts to track down and extradite high-profile figures linked to organised crime syndicates and online fraud networks.

He said the strategy was already producing results. In 2024, Sri Lanka secured the return of 10 suspects through Interpol channels, while a further 11 were extradited in 2025 to face legal proceedings.

In addition to Red Notices, authorities have relied on formal legal mechanisms to overcome jurisdictional barriers. “During the 2024–2025 period, 21 suspects were extradited under the Extradition Act,” SSP Wootler said.

The briefing coincided with three more fugitives being escorted back to Sri Lanka yesterday following the issuance of Interpol Red Notices.

SSP Wootler said many of the fugitives had continued to coordinate criminal activities here from abroad, including sophisticated online scams, underscoring the importance of international cooperation.

Two male suspects, for whom Red Notices had been issued and who were overseas, and a female suspect wanted in connection with defrauding state funds, were flown back.

Following their arrival yesterday morning at Katunayake Airport, they were taken into custody by a team of officers from the CID.

The arrested suspects are residents of Kandana and Uragasmanhandiya, aged 30 and 52, respectively. The female suspect is a 56-year-old resident of Mount Lavinia.

The suspect residing in Kandana is an individual wanted in connection with an attempted murder. It has been revealed that while overseas, he is connected to a range of crimes, including orchestrating a shooting incident that resulted in a homicide in the Kandana area on 2025.07.03. This suspect has been handed over to the Officer-in-Charge of the Kelaniya Division for further investigations.

The one hailing from Uragasmanhandiya is a suspect wanted in connection with carrying out homicides using sharp weapons and being involved in a series of organised crimes in the Uragasmanhandiya area. This suspect has been handed over to the Officer-in-Charge of the Elpitiya Division for further investigations.

The female suspect, residing in Mount Lavinia, who is reported to have worked at an Embassy in 2014, is an accused in a case where the Criminal Investigations Department is investigating the defrauding of state funds. She has been sentenced to imprisonment, fines, and also ordered to compensate victims by the Colombo High Court.

“These operations were carried out with the strong support of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi International Police, Dubai Police, as well as Sri Lankan diplomatic missions,” he said.

Interpol Red Notices function as international alerts requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition.

Wootler said efforts would continue to identify and pursue suspects operating from foreign jurisdictions, particularly those involved in organised and cyber-related crimes posing threats to national security.

By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu