Nigerian man arrested after eight years over gift parcel scam

24 July 2025 06:37 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

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By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, July 24 (Daily Mirror) - A Nigerian man, Christopher Ikekwuaku Kanu was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department after evading authorities for nearly eight years.

He is alleged to have defrauded Sri Lankan citizens by collecting large sums of money under the pretense of Customs fees, registration charges, government taxes and storage costs, falsely claiming these payments were required to release valuable gift parcels.

The Criminal Investigation Department produced the suspect before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga.

According to a complaint lodged by a woman in Colombo, the suspect had defrauded her of Rs. 1.5 million by claiming she had won a gift parcel and needed to pay Customs duties, registration fees, government taxes and storage charges to receive it.

Officers from the CID’s Cyber Crimes Division informed court that the suspect is also facing multiple other cases currently being heard before courts across the country.

They further revealed that several other Nigerian nationals involved in the same gift-parcel scam are expected to be arrested soon.

The CID requested that the suspect be remanded as investigations are still ongoing.

After considering the submissions made, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded till August 7.

Comments - 9

roobarbie Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:45 PM

I must say sri lankans are a glib lot and these crooks are exploiting them. If they are smart they would not have fallen for the deception of UNP, SLFP, Hotu Pohottu, and now SJB crooked politicians for the last 76 years. Even hardened businessmen and women for these tricks, the prime reason is their greed eclipsing their common sense.

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Rama Nanayakkara Thursday, 24 July 2025 07:27 PM

Look in the mirror mate

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roobarbie Friday, 25 July 2025 01:32 PM

No mirrors nor smoke screens here where I live. Only common sense, intelligence and x-ray vision. Get smart!

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STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP PRAYING PEOPLE TO THE ONE AND ONLY LIVING GOD WHO HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND WITH WHOM NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE Thursday, 24 July 2025 08:17 PM

ROOBARBIE, WELL SAID COULDN'T HAVE SEEN A MORE SPOT ON COMMENT. EVEN THE POOR HAVE RESORTED TO GREED FROM THE EXAMPLE SET MY SOME POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHO HAVE UPTO NOT BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE A COURT OF LAW AND THROWN INTO JAIL. AS THEY SAY " THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE" THAT THIS GOVT WILL BE ABLE TO TURN THE POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE AROUND AND HAVE A FEW OF THEM BEHIND BARS IN THIS TERM OF THEIR GOVERNING OR THE NEXT, AS IT IS NOT EASY AS THEY HAVE HAD YEARS AND YEARS TO PASS THE PARCELS FROM HAND TO HAND AND INTO BUSINESSES AND PEOPERTIES USING STOOGES AS THE INVESTORS IN SOME INSTANCES, AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH ILLGOTTEN MONEY.

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ANNE CUNT Thursday, 24 July 2025 07:29 PM

this is very common in other countries we get emails like this all the time, so Sri-Lankans are not smart enough that is why our former politicians fooled 22 million people and got elected

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B P Friday, 25 July 2025 07:53 AM

Not fooled this time?

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Just saying Thursday, 24 July 2025 11:14 PM

Another tourist who turns out to be a con artist! Screening of all tourists is a necessity, otherwise it’s open doors to all and sundry! Sure, people will slip through the net, but screening might do two things; prevent entry to some undesirables and make people more wary of their actions.

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Political Sira Friday, 25 July 2025 05:55 AM

76 years a fools paradise. Unfortunately. Time have changed though and people are more informed. Jayaweva

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Dain Martin Monday, 28 July 2025 01:15 PM

Yes many of us are aware of the old Nigerian postal scam (and often Ghana) but many people in many countries are unaware and these scammers can be very convincing if you don’t the signs. Hope and desperation can easily overrule common sense.

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