Nepal detains 122 Chinese in cybercrime raids

The Chinese are suspected of hacking into bank cash machines and their passports and laptops had been seized

A police officer said the Chinese embassy knew about the raids and had supported the detentions

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Detained Chinese nationals cover their faces as they are taken to a court in Kathmandu. Photo: AP

Published: 6:27pm, 24 Dec 2019Updated: 6:28pm, 24 Dec 2019

Police in Nepal have detained 122 Chinese men and women in its biggest crackdown on crime by foreigners entering the country on tourist visas, officials said on Tuesday.

The chief of police in the capital Kathmandu said the suspects were rounded up in raids on Monday following information that they were engaged in suspicious activities.

The Chinese are suspected of cybercrime and hacking into bank cash machines, the police chief, Uttam Subedi, said, adding that they were being held in different police stations and their passports and laptops had been seized.

“This is the first time that so many foreigners have been detained for suspected criminal activities,” he said.

Another senior police officer, Hobindra Bogati, said the Chinese embassy knew about the raids and had supported the detentions.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Chinese and Nepali police had cooperated on the case and China was willing to increase law enforcement cooperation with its neighbour.