Police in Karonga have arrested a 36-year-old Chinese national after finding 20 desktop computers and 20 Airtel MiFi devices at a lodge where he was allegedly operating an unlicensed online business. The suspect, Yekai Liao, was arrested on 29 August 2026 at around 11:30 am at Nechos Lodge in Mwanganda Village following a tip-off about […]
Police in Karonga have arrested a 36-year-old Chinese national after finding 20 desktop computers and 20 Airtel MiFi devices at a lodge where he was allegedly operating an unlicensed online business.
The suspect, Yekai Liao, was arrested on 29 August 2026 at around 11:30 am at Nechos Lodge in Mwanganda Village following a tip-off about an online business being operated from the premises.
Karonga Police Public Relations Officer Rose Chipyola says officers who visited the lodge found the computers, keyboards and MiFi devices.
According to Chipyola, Liao told the police that he had 11 employees, comprising nine Malawians and two Nigerians, who worked from 6pm to 6am.
However, he reportedly failed to satisfactorily explain the nature of the business he was running from the lodge.
Police have since confiscated the equipment for examination by Cyber Crime officers from the Malawi Police Service National Headquarters.
Chipyola says investigations are underway to establish the nature of the online business and identify other people who may be connected to the matter.
