Philippine authorities have arrested 244 foreign nationals during raids targeting suspected unlicensed offshore online gaming operations on the southern island of Mindanao.
The Philippine Immigration Bureau said the military and law enforcement groups conducted raids at two locations on Friday.
Authorities detained 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodian nationals and one Hong Kong resident at the first site. At the second location, a further 131 foreign nationals were arrested, most of whom were Chinese, along with Malaysian, Indonesian and Myanmar citizens.
Authorities also confiscated computers, laptops, mobile phones and SIM cards during the raids, according to the bureau’s statement.
The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by Philippine authorities to identify and shut down unlicensed offshore gaming operations following the country’s 2024 ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
