Immigration agents arrested three South Koreans and eight Japanese fugitives in four separate operations this week.
The 11 foreigners were arrested in cities of Quezon, Taguig, Pasay, and in the province of Laguna by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit, according to FSU chief Bobby Raquepo who said the three Koreans were wanted for large-scale fraud.
“They no longer hold valid passports as these were already canceled by the Korean government,” said Raquepo.
Arrested on Feb. 4 in a unit of a condominium building in Cubao was Kim Moo Gyo, 35.
Kim was reportedly issued an arrest warrant by a Korean court where he was indicted for involvement in telecommunications fraud wherein the victims’ combined losses amounted to more than a billion won or more than $US840 million.
Also arrested on the same date in a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig was Kim Saehyun, 27.
Kim was the subject of a warrant for illegally operating an online gaming business and committing telecom fraud in violation of national sports promotion act of the Republic of Korea.
Last Feb. 10, FSU operatives also arrested in Pasay City 72-year-old Wi Seong Don, who is wanted on multiple counts of fraud and embezzlement charges in Korea.
Arrested last Tuesday at a resort in Sitio Lilian, Famy Laguna were eight Japanese nationals engaged in a voice phishing and telecom fraud and extortion.
According to Raquepo, the suspects, who were all male and in their early 20s to 30s, were the subjects of an investigation and case buildup by the National Bureau of Investigation.
The suspects were involved in a scam targeting fellow Japanese nationals.
The syndicate, Raquepo added, scammed millions of pesos in its scheme and was operating for at least three years.
The three Koreans and eight Japanese are now detained at the Immigration Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending their deportation.