The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that a major cash smuggling case was intercepted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, where a total of 441.92 million pesos in cash and foreign currencies were seized, and 11 suspects were arrested. These individuals were attempting to board a flight to Manila, including 6 Chinese citizens, 1 Malaysian, 1 Indonesian, 1 Kazakhstani, and 2 Filipinos.
The police found nearly 500 kilograms of banknotes in 7 large luggage bags checked in by the 11 individuals, each bag weighing 70 kilograms and all concealed in sealed packaging, attempting to pass through customs under the guise of "legal chip exchange funds."
Casino documents lead to "9 Dynasty Group," police lock in new evidence of money laundering in Guo's case
Documents found at the scene indicated that the huge amount of cash was labeled as "legal casino income," but it was highly associated with the 9 Dynasty Group, a Chinese-backed gambling intermediary previously revoked by the Philippine government for allegedly collecting ransom in the kidnapping case involving Chinese businessman Guo, and announced its withdrawal from the Philippine market.
Brigadier General Fahardo of the PNP stated: "Preliminary indications suggest that the flow of this huge amount of cash highly matches the path of the missing ransom in Mr. Guo's case, and is likely part of the money laundering network involved in that case."
Background review: Ransom in Guo's case suspected to be "laundered" through gambling intermediary system
Guo's case is a major criminal case that has shaken the Chinese community in the Philippines in recent years, with his family having paid over 200 million pesos in ransom through various e-wallets and intermediary platforms after the incident. Police investigations have found that some of the ransom money had suspicious transaction paths, indicating that the funds were transferred into gambling chip accounts and then dispersed through foreign "straw accounts."
Although there had been rumors that the 9 Dynasty Group or its upstream and downstream channels were involved in the transfer role, there had always been a lack of key physical evidence. The large amount of cash and related documents seized at the airport may become the first piece of "physical money laundering chain" evidence held by the police.
11 suspects detained, investigation focuses on transnational money laundering gang
The police stated that among the 11 suspects, many entered the Philippines on tourist visas, with questionable identities, and two Filipinos are suspected to be ground assistants. Investigators are verifying whether these individuals are members of a transnational money laundering gang and whether there are organized signs of "straw man collection" or "foreign cash withdrawal agents."
All suspects are currently detained at the temporary detention center of the PNP Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Group, and the case has been transferred to the prosecutor's office, awaiting whether formal criminal charges will be filed.
Philippines accelerates crackdown on gambling money laundering network
This case has once again sparked intense attention to the connection between the gambling intermediary system and cross-border money laundering activities. Philippine law enforcement agencies stated that they will continue to intensify inspections at airports, ports, and financial systems to thoroughly investigate domestic and international gambling fund flows.
