Philippines arrests 154 Chinese nationals running illegal online gambling site

Philippines immigration authorities have rousted a Chinese-run illegal online gambling and ‘cyber crime’ operation in the Clark Freeport Zone.

On Friday, Interaksyon reported that Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents had raided rented units on two floors in a building in Clark Field after receiving tips that illegal gambling was taking place. The BI agents acted after subjecting the property to “weeks of intense surveillance.”

The raid resulted in the detention of 154 Chinese nationals, including eight who’d yet to achieve the age of majority. The suspects entered the Philippines on tourist visas, many of which had expired by the time of the raids.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the suspects were being held at a Philippine Immigration Academy facility pending summary deportation proceedings for violating the terms of their visas.