Philippines Authorities Raid Alleged Illegal Online Gambling and Fraud Syndicate
Philippine officials revealed on Sunday (September 1) that authorities conducted a raid in the central province of Cebu targeting a group involved in illegal online gambling and internet fraud. Over 160 individuals, mostly Chinese and Indonesians, were detained for their alleged involvement in online criminal activities.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission stated that a joint operation composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) carried out the raid at a large resort in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday (August 31).
The operation was reportedly initiated after the Indonesian Embassy in Manila requested assistance in rescuing eight Indonesian nationals who were forced to work at an online gambling center.
The commission disclosed that at least 162 foreign nationals were found working at three different scam locations within the resort, engaging in various criminal activities including online romance scams, gambling, and investment schemes which defrauded victims of significant amounts of money.
Among the detained individuals, there are 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesians, 6 Burmese, 2 Taiwanese, and 1 Malaysian. They will be transported to Manila for further investigation by the immigration authorities and may face deportation.
Authorities indicated that the resort owners have been arrested and could potentially face criminal charges for harboring illegal foreign nationals on their premises.
Norman Tansingco, the head of the Philippine Immigration Bureau, stated, “We will recommend authorities to file charges against resort owners who allow illegal foreigners to conduct clandestine activities on their properties.” He added that this action would serve as a deterrent to individuals attempting to carry out illegal online gambling operations.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr issued an order on July 22 to clamp down on the widespread online gambling operations in the country, predominantly run by Chinese nationals, citing involvement in financial fraud, human trafficking, torture, kidnapping, and murder.
The Philippine Immigration Bureau also announced two days later the expulsion of all foreign employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and licensed online gambling operators (IGL) within 60 days, in compliance with the president’s directive.
Prior reports from Reuters noted that at the peak, around 300 offshore gambling operators were operating in the Philippines, but many companies have since relocated or shifted operations underground due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stricter tax regulations. Presently, only 42 companies mainly operated by Chinese nationals have retained licenses, employing approximately 63,000 Philippine and foreign workers directly or indirectly.