75 Chinese deported over illegal online gaming operations

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported 75 Chinese who were arrested for involvement in illegal online gaming operations  in violation of the conditions of their stay as tourists.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed on Thursday that the deportees were among the  312 Chinese nationals arrested last December 2019 by joint operatives of the BI intelligence division and the Quezon City police in their rented offices inside a building along North EDSA in Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

The Chinese nationals left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) early Wednesday aboard a chartered plane that flew to Zhengzhou, China.

Their deportation came eight months later because of travel restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

According to Morente,  the Chinese embassy arranged the departure of its citizens, who were also facing charges for economic crimes in China.

“Chinese authorities said that they were engaged in cyber crime activities and investment scams that victimized many of their compatriots in China,” BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said.

He added that  all of the deportees were undocumented aliens as their passports had been cancelled by the Chinese government.

Source: TheManila Times