Philippine authorities have arrested 244 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on illegal offshore gaming operations allegedly linked to human trafficking, fraud, kidnapping, money laundering and other crimes.
The Immigration Bureau said military and other law enforcement agencies raided two locations on the southern island of Mindanao on Friday.
At the first location, authorities arrested 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and one Hong Kong resident. A further 131 foreign nationals were arrested at the second site, most of them Chinese, alongside citizens of Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar.
Officials also seized large quantities of computers, mobile phones, laptops and SIM cards during the raids.
The Philippine government banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in 2024 after authorities raised concerns that criminal groups were using the industry as a cover for illegal activities, including human trafficking, fraud, kidnapping and murder.
Authorities are investigating some of those arrested for possible human trafficking offences, while others are expected to be deported.
Immigration chief Joel Viado said the government would continue enforcing immigration laws and prevent the Philippines from becoming a base for illegal activities.
The Chinese embassy said it was communicating with Philippine law enforcement agencies to obtain details about the arrests. A Chinese embassy spokesperson also said Chinese law prohibits gambling, including gambling abroad or working for gambling companies.
The United Nations has previously warned that hundreds of thousands of people across Southeast Asia have been trafficked into scam centres, where victims are often forced to conduct online fraud, including fake cryptocurrency investment schemes.
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