PH deports 180 Chinese nationals ‘engaging in online scams’

A statement from China’s embassy in Manila states that 180 Chinese people who were participating in offshore gambling in the Philippines were deported as a result of cooperation between Chinese and Philippine law enforcement agencies.

The repatriation followed a raid in Manila on an alleged online fraud and sex trafficking operation. The October operation produced around 600 individuals of various nationalities, including nationals of China, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Although the establishment was licensed as an internet gaming organization, it was found to include sex toys, a massage parlor, karaoke rooms, and a restaurant. The deported Chinese nationals were accused of engaging in online fraud and lacked work permits. In the coming weeks, more foreign nationals who were detained during the operation will probably be deported.

The investigation highlights global concerns about cybercrimes in the Asia-Pacific region, which can include human trafficking victims who are tricked or pressured into endorsing fictitious Bitcoin investments.

The growth of “scam call centers,” which employ people who enter the country illegally, has raised worries in the Philippines. In the Philippines, corruption and official collaboration in trafficking crimes are major issues, and labor trafficking offenses are not aggressively investigated or prosecuted, according to the US State Department’s 2023 report on human trafficking.

Original story by: South China Morning Post