Philippine authorities conducted a major raid on an illegal online gaming operation over the weekend, arresting more than 150 foreign nationals on the central island of Cebu. The raid, led by immigration officials and members of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, uncovered a large-scale illegal gaming and scam operation inside a resort.
According to a statement from the Bureau of Immigration, agents discovered dozens of individuals working at makeshift workstations, engaged in illegal activities. The raid, which stemmed from a request by the Indonesian embassy, revealed the presence of multiple “scam farms” operated by foreign nationals from China, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
Winston Casio, spokesman for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, provided further details, stating, “We’ve seen enough evidence to be able to file a cybercrime offence, for facilitating cybercrime-related gambling, cybercrime-related qualified trafficking.” Casio’s remarks were made during a briefing streamed on the Facebook page of The Freeman, a local news outlet in Cebu.
Local reports from Cebu Daily News indicated that a total of 162 foreign nationals were apprehended at the site. The detainees included 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesians, six Myanmar nationals, one Malaysian, and two Taiwanese. All those arrested are set to be temporarily detained before their deportation, according to the Bureau of Immigration.
“This will serve as a warning to those who might attempt to start illegal online gambling operations, which has already been banned by the President,” said Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco. The crackdown comes after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators in July, a move aimed at curbing crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking associated with the industry.
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