The Philippine police have once again struck hard, arresting two South Korean suspects listed as "Red Notice" by INTERPOL for operating an illegal online gambling platform. The arrests took place recently in the Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga, showcasing the Philippines' escalating efforts against foreign gambling syndicates.
According to a report by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police, the arrested suspects are Mr. Choi, aged 42, and Mr. Yang, aged 39. Since 2016, they have been operating an illegal gambling filming base in Cebu, specifically producing live gambling content for underground South Korean gambling websites. Police investigations revealed that within just two years, they illegally profited over 3.5 billion Korean Won (approximately 190 million pesos).
Mr. Yang has been wanted by a court in South Korea for many years. In 2018, the Seoul Western District Court issued a formal arrest warrant for him on charges of serious gambling offenses and requested INTERPOL to list him as a Red Notice criminal. Following the incident, Mr. Yang has been staying illegally in the Philippines, with his detention visa also expired.
This arrest was based on precise targeting by the CIDG intelligence system. After receiving reliable information, the police quickly launched a raid and controlled both individuals on the spot. Currently, they are detained by the CIDG and are expected to be handed over to the Philippine Immigration Bureau, potentially facing deportation or extradition procedures.
This operation has exposed the reality of foreign gambling groups operating covertly in the Philippines for a long time, drawing significant public attention. Especially after the large-scale deportation of Chinese fraud suspects, Philippine law enforcement has noticeably accelerated the pace of clearing out illegal elements from other countries.
The Philippine police emphasize that the country will never become a haven for transnational criminals. Regardless of the suspect's nationality or how long they have been hiding, anyone involved in illegal activities such as online gambling and telecommunications fraud will be identified and punished according to the law. The police also call on the public to actively provide information on suspicious foreigners to combat cross-border crime and maintain social security.
