Philippine authorities have deported 55 Chinese nationals arrested earlier this month for their involvement in an illegal online gambling ring.

On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced that its Philippine counterparts had returned 55 suspected ‘economic criminals’ to their home country after the Chinese embassy revoked their passports.

The suspects were arrested on April 18 after the MPS tipped off the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) regarding an illegal online proxy betting operation in the Freeport Area of Bataan. At least 38 of those arrested by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit were reportedly involved in the illegal gambling operation, while the remaining suspects were accused of other fraudulent economic activities.

The MPS claimed that a total of 99 suspects had been arrested in relation to the case, while declining to provide specifics on the status or nationalities of the other 44 individuals.