Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers intercepted two foreign fugitives wanted for duping more than 260,000 Chinese to gamble in international sports competitions and invest in cryptocurrencies earning them a combined 2 billion yuan, or more than $276 million in four years.
A Korean and a Chinese were apprehended at the NAIA terminal 3 before they could board their outbound flights bound for South Korea and Malaysia.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the Korean passenger, identified as Li Su Bin, was eventually allowed to board his flight after BI officials informed their counterparts in Seoul about the impending arrival of the fugitive. He was later arrested by Korean policemen upon arriving at the Incheon airport.
The Chinese passenger, identified as Yao Bin, was offloaded from his Malaysia-bound flight and detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
Li is wanted in Seoul for involvement in an investment scam. He is said to be a member of an investment fraud organization based in Laos that preyed on unsuspecting victims who were enticed to invest their money in cryptocurrencies and stocks.
Li was identified as one of the syndicate’s sales agents who “courted” customers for its love scam operations. As for Yao, the BI-Interpol said he is a member of a cybercrime syndicate that operated several gambling websites.
