Philippine authorities have arrested over 450 individuals in a significant raid targeting an alleged Chinese-run offshore gaming operator in Manila. This operation comes amid the government's ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal online gaming activities linked to organized crime. The raid, conducted by the country's anti-organized crime commission, uncovered a network involved in fraudulent schemes, including bogus cryptocurrency investments and sports betting cons.
The crackdown is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by President Ferdinand Marcos, who banned Philippine online gaming operators (POGOs) last year. The ban was introduced to combat criminal activities associated with these operations, such as human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings, and even murder. Despite the prohibition, about 21,000 Chinese nationals have continued to operate smaller-scale scam operations within the country.
The recent bust saw the detention of 137 Chinese nationals among those arrested. Initial investigations revealed that the suburban site was functioning as a scam center, targeting millions of victims worldwide, particularly in China and India. These scams generate an estimated annual revenue of US$64 billion.
"This raid proves that the previous POGO workers are still trying to continue their scamming activities despite the ban," said Gilberto Cruz.
The Philippine government has intensified its crackdown on POGOs and related scams following President Marcos's directive. The issue has been a focal point in recent political campaigns, with President Marcos criticizing former President Rodrigo Duterte's perceived leniency towards these operations as indicative of an overly close relationship with China.
This recent operation is not an isolated event. It follows a series of raids carried out this year, including one in January where approximately 400 foreigners were apprehended in the capital. Many of those arrested were Chinese nationals, and they face potential trafficking charges alongside five Chinese bosses implicated in these illicit activities.
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