According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), more than 400 foreigners were arrested during a raid on a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) fraud center in Pasay City.
This operation was conducted in collaboration with the Pasay City Government, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Cybercrime Office, ultimately shutting down an illegal POGO operation within One Wheels Condominiums.
The crackdown was initiated following a report by a concerned citizen about the frequent movement of foreigners in and out of the building.
During the raid, authorities discovered various signs of scams, including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and spam activities.
Investigators also found several SMS transmitters, one-time password generators, and cold crypto wallets. These scams were primarily conducted through messaging platforms such as Viber and Telegram.
A total of 401 foreigners were arrested, including 207 Chinese, 132 Vietnamese, 24 Koreans, 11 Malaysians, 14 Indonesians, 12 Burmese, and one Madagascan.
Additionally, 52 Filipino workers were found at the site.
In response to these illegal activities, the Pasay City Government issued a cease and desist order, immediately shutting down the business due to the lack of a business license and violation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s comprehensive ban on POGOs.
