The Kandy Divisional Crimes Unit has arrested a 37-year-old suspect involved in a large-scale racket reselling 'e-Tickets' for up-country trains, including popular routes to Ella. The arrest occurred on the evening of January 22 in the Suduhumpola area of Kandy Police Division.
The suspect, a resident of Suduhumpola, was found in possession of 21 ‘Odyssey’ train tickets, which were purchased online, along with Rs. 130,670 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal sales.
The police also seized 130 notepads documenting previous transactions and a mobile phone containing further evidence of the operation.
Authorities suspect that the individual was part of a network that profited by reselling train tickets to foreign tourists at inflated prices. This follows recent concerns raised by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding fraudulent practices related to e-tickets for popular tourist routes.
On January 20, the CID informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that an investigation had been launched into the suspicious speed at which tickets for scenic journeys were being sold out—often within a mere 42 seconds of release.
It is alleged that certain groups have been exploiting automated purchasing systems to acquire all available tickets, which they then resell at exorbitant prices. Tickets that originally cost around Rs. 2,000 are being resold for as high as Rs. 16,000.
The arrested suspect has been handed over to the CID for further investigation. Authorities are continuing to look into the broader network of individuals involved in these illegal ticket reselling operations.
