TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities in the Philippines dismantled an offshore gambling and fraud operation in the Greater Manila area on Thursday (Oct. 3), arresting over 250 suspects, including two Taiwanese nationals.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC, 菲律賓總統府反組織犯罪委員會), immigration bureau, and police, conducted a coordinated raid in Pasay City (巴賽市) around 6 p.m.
Officials discovered the illicit operation less than a kilometer from the Philippine Senate. They apprehended more than 180 foreign employees and over 70 Filipino workers. Authorities also seized computers, mobile phones, and SIM cards suspected of being used for fraudulent activities.
Initial investigations revealed the suspects engaged in offshore gambling and conducted catfishing, facing charges of illegal employment and immigration law violations.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines has reached out to local authorities, confirming the presence of at least two Taiwanese nationals among the detainees. They plan to verify their identities and provide necessary legal assistance.
