The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested six Chinese nationals in Pasay City following an operation targeting alleged transnational fraud and illegal activities involving foreign nationals.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Sunday lauded agents of the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) for carrying out the operation, which stemmed from coordination with Chinese law enforcement authorities.
Authorities said the primary target of the operation was a 34-year-old Chinese fugitive who was allegedly hiding illegal financial proceeds and was the subject of an active criminal detention warrant issued in China.
The suspect was arrested on May 6 in a residential area in Barangay 13, Pasay City through a joint operation involving the BI, the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, and the Philippine Air Force.
During the raid, four other Chinese nationals were also apprehended after authorities allegedly discovered them operating computer workstations and electronic devices believed to be connected to online fraud activities.
Immigration officials said one of the four was also found to be wanted for fraud charges in China, while the three others were determined to have already overstayed in the Philippines.
A sixth Chinese national, 47, was likewise arrested after allegedly failing to present a valid passport or immigration documents during the operation.
All six suspects are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City and are facing immigration-related charges.