FOUR Korean nationals said to be wanted for serious crimes related to large-scale illegal online gambling and fraud operations were arrested in separate operations by the the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in close coordination with Korean authorities and local law enforcement partners.
In his report to the bureau, BI-Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) head Rendel Ryan Sy said that together with elements from Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Office 3, Philippine Navy, and Clark Development Corporation Police, they first arrested on une 25 Oh Kyoungchul, 42, in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
Sy said that Oh is the alleged leader of a syndicate that operated an illegal gambling video production ring in Cebu from 2016 to 2018. The group allegedly rented a house, installed computer and video equipment, and distributed content to unlawful gambling websites. The operation was said to have earned the group approximately ₩3.5 billion in illicit profits. Oh is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an arrest warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court.
As Oh’s arrest was being made, agents came across another Korean identified as Yang Koo Youn, 39, who was found to have been also overstaying and laterthat day, a separate operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City led to the arrest of Jung Hoesung, 40.
Jung, who entered the country as a temporary visitor, was found to be overstaying and is wanted in Korea for operating 23 illegal online gambling platforms and is said to have active entries in the BI’s blacklist and watchlist.
According to Korean authorities, his group earned over ₩4 trillion in profits. They also lured victims into joining operations in the Philippines under false pretenses, then confiscated their passports and subjected them to threats and physical abuse.
Following this, on July 4, BI-FSU agents conducted an enforcement operation in San Juan City, resulting in the arrest of Han Jonghoon, 41, who allegedly served as the finance team leader of a criminal organization that also operated 23 gambling websites and whose duties included managing accounts, supervising staff and setting profit targets.
Their operations reportedly offered sports betting and games like baccarat and Powerball which generated over ₩2 trillion in revenue. Han is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and two active derogatory records in the BI database.
All suspects are considered undesirable aliens. They are held at the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility pending deportation proceedings.
