Recently, a large deployment of police forces suddenly appeared at the entrance of the luxurious Solaire Casino in Manila, causing surprise among the guests and staff present. Many questioned, "Isn't the casino a protected area? Why are there so many police officers here?"
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, there was a large number of police officers, including plainclothes personnel lingering around the perimeter, creating a tense atmosphere for a time. A regular visitor speculated, "This doesn't seem like routine patrol, it looks more like targeted law enforcement. Are they investigating 'jungle operations' in the hotel?"
The so-called "jungle operations" refer to individuals engaged in illegal gambling intermediation, money laundering, or traffic diversion activities within high-end hotels, and have become a key target for the Philippine police in combating the online gambling grey industry chain.
Although Solaire has always been considered a secure high-end entertainment venue, this sudden operation has sparked speculation about whether it is involved in related cases. As of now, the police have not publicly explained the reason for the action, and the casino has remained silent.
Industry insiders analyze that as the government tightens up the gambling ecosystem, even legal venues may be infiltrated by grey operations. Once they become platforms or stepping stones, they are inevitably "knocked on" by law enforcement as a warning.
As early as July 26, under the cooperation of the Korean police, the Philippine Air Force, and the Clark Development Corporation, the Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) of the Immigration Bureau launched a raid in the Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga Province, arresting four Korean men involved in jungle operations.
Among those arrested, 38-year-old Ham Seong Hwan and 21-year-old Kim Jongbaek had set up a scam base in a local residence, posing as a travel agency, and lured victims to make payments through fake travel websites and false promotional information. During the raid, the police also found 37-year-old Kim Taekyeong and 36-year-old Park Jinhyung at the scene participating in the crime, with the latter being identified as the mastermind of the group, illegally staying in the Philippines since 2024.
Another Korean fugitive, Park Youngjun, was arrested on the same day near José Abad Santos Avenue in Clark. He was involved in fraud through live streaming platforms in Korea, illegally profiting 4.6 million Korean won (approximately 190,000 pesos), and was listed on Interpol's "Red Notice".
Currently, the four individuals are detained at the Immigration Detention Center, awaiting deportation procedures. The authorities emphasize the continued crackdown on illegal foreign nationals and cybercrime, aiming to prevent "jungle" groups from settling in the Philippines.
