Philippine authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), with over 400 foreign nationals arrested in the latest raid in Pasay City. The operation, conducted on 27 February 2025, targeted an alleged scam hub operating inside One Wheels Condominiums, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
The raid was a coordinated effort between the Pasay City government, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime.
It was prompted by a tip-off from a concerned citizen who reported suspicious activity involving an influx of foreign nationals entering and exiting the building.
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Authorities revealed that the facility was being used for multiple fraudulent schemes, including cryptocurrency scams, love scams, investment fraud, and spamming operations. Investigators also seized text blasters, one-time password generators, and cold crypto wallets, indicating the use of advanced technology in the illicit activities. Messaging platforms such as Viber and Telegram were also used.
A total of 401 foreign nationals were taken into custody, comprising 207 Chinese, 132 Vietnamese, 24 Koreans, 11 Malaysians, 14 Indonesians, 12 Myanmar nationals, and one from Madagascar. Additionally, 52 Filipino workers were also present at the site.
In response, the Pasay City government swiftly issued a cease and desist order, shutting down the operation due to the absence of a business permit and violations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s total ban on POGOs.
Mass arrests sweep the country
This latest raid follows a similar major law enforcement operation just a week prior, in which 453 individuals were arrested in a suspected POGO hub in Parañaque City on 20 February 2025.
The Parañaque raid was also carried out by multiple agencies, including the PNP-CIDG, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, and the PAOCC.
The operation targeted an office building in the Bay Area of Parañaque, where authorities executed an arrest warrant against a Chinese national accused of fraud. The suspect was found employed by the POGO, which had been under surveillance for months.
Among the 453 arrested were 146 foreign nationals, predominantly Chinese, who were caught operating various online scams. Investigations revealed that each floor of the facility was dedicated to a different fraudulent activity.
The Philippine government is now grappling with the cost of detaining these individuals, which Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed has amounted to approximately P210 million (€3.5 million) since the crackdown began in 2023. “The longer they stay, the more the government has to pay for their detention,” Viado stated.
Authorities are also planning deportation of several arrested foreign nationals. In response, the Chinese embassy has urged Philippine authorities to ensure direct flights from Manila to Beijing for deportees.