Chinese businessman Huang Zhiyang has once again become the focus of international media and law enforcement agencies due to allegations of illegal gambling, human trafficking, and money laundering activities.
According to a joint investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Cyprus Investigative News Network (CIReN), and Philippine media Rappler, he obtained Cypriot nationality through abuse of international investment schemes and engaged in illegal activities in the Philippines.
In 2019, Huang Zhiyang invested 2 million euros in a Cypriot real estate company, thereby obtaining nationality through the "Golden Passport Program".
With this identity, he opened several businesses in Tarlac Province, Philippines, including a real estate company. Although the program has been abolished due to its overly lenient approval mechanism for criminals, its legacy issues highlight the vulnerabilities of international investment schemes.
Currently, Huang Zhiyang is wanted in both the Philippines and China. His assets in the Philippines have been frozen, including five bank accounts and a manor. Despite his attempts to retrieve his investments in Cyprus, legal barriers have hindered these efforts.
Huang Zhiyang's illegal offshore gambling (POGO) business is alleged to involve human trafficking, romance scams, investment frauds, and cryptocurrency fraud. Several employees working in the operations reported being abused or threatened, forced to participate in scam activities.
The investigation also revealed close ties between Huang Zhiyang and Singaporean criminals Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying. The three co-founded Baofu Land Development Company, located in Banban Town, Tarlac, which is considered a center for illegal activities. Although Huang Zhiyang claimed to have exited the company, evidence suggests he still exerts influence behind the scenes.
Former Banban Town Mayor Guo Aili is accused of being involved in Huang Zhiyang's criminal activities. She is not only implicated in espionage but also closely associated with illegal gambling and human trafficking networks. After a warrant was issued by Philippine authorities, Guo Aili was arrested in Indonesia. Her transnational activities involve multiple associates, including another POGO figure, Wu Duanren.
Guo Aili co-founded Baofu Land Development Company with Huang Zhiyang and is also linked to the "Lucky South 99" company, which was raided in 2023 for human trafficking and torture. The Philippine Senate and the Department of Justice are now working with Singapore, Indonesia, and other countries to track down related criminal networks and expedite the extradition process of suspects.
The complexity of transnational crime is testing the cooperation efficiency between the Philippines and other countries. The Cypriot government has expressed willingness to assist, but actions may be delayed due to differences in legal systems. Singaporean police have confirmed cooperation with Philippine authorities to investigate associates of Huang Zhiyang and Guo Aili (Guo Huaping).
In July 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos announced a complete ban on POGO operations in the country, indicating a major shift in government attitude. Although the industry was once favored for its economic contributions, its close ties to criminal activities in recent years have made it a focus of law enforcement. The government is also stepping up efforts to combat "underground POGO" and assist affected local workers in finding new jobs.
This case once again highlights the challenges and urgency of combating transnational crime in the international community, and it also sparks deep reflection on how to prevent the abuse of investment immigration programs.
