Nine aliens suspected of call center fraud arrested by immigration

June 15, 2018

Immigration operatives arrested 19 foreign nationals allegedly wanted for crimes, including drug trafficking and call center fraud in an operation with the Royal Thai Police last June 14 in Muntinlupa City.

In a report to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente Friday, BI Fugitive Search Unit chief Bobby Raquepo said  16 of the arrested are Thai nationals who are undocumented aliens and pose a risk to public safety and security for being fugitives from justice.

“We received information from the Royal Thai Police that they are fugitives from justice and a part of a large-scale criminal syndicate that have been operating an illegal call center in the country,” Morente said in a statement.

“They have amassed millions of Thai baht by committing fraud and victimizing Thai people in the Philippines,” he added.

The 19 foreign nationals were caught operating an illegal call center at Posadas Village in Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa City.  They will undergo inquest proceedings, and will be detained at the BI Detention Facility in Taguig City pending their deportation.

According to the report by Raquepo, the syndicate initially operated in Cambodia and Malaysia before expanding their operations to the Philippines.

BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said passports of the 16 Thais have already been revoked by the Thai government.

Sandoval added three Taiwanese nationals were also arrested.  Reports from Taiwanese authorities reveal that the ring leader, known as alias Wu Chang Long, is a fugitive from justice wanted for drug trafficking. DMS