IMMIGRATION agents have arrested 19 foreign nationals wanted for drug trafficking and call center fraud.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente, in a statement on Friday, June 15, said that 16 of those arrested are Thai nationals while three are Taiwanese nationals.
The 19 foreign nationals were caught operating in an illegal call center at Posadas Village in Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa City last June 14.
Morente said the operation against the fugitives stemmed from information from the Royal Thai Police that they are fugitives from justice and involved in a large-scale criminal syndicate that has been operating an illegal call center in the Philippines.
“They have amassed millions of Thai baht by committing fraud and victimizing Thai people in the Philippines,” said Morente.
According to the BI, the alleged syndicate initially operated in Cambodia and Malaysia and later in the Philippines.
The passports of the 16 Thais have already been revoked by the Thai government, according to the BI.
According to the BI, one of the apprehended Taiwanese nationals known as alias Wu Chang Long is a fugitive wanted for drug trafficking in his country.
The 19 foreign nationals are detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City. They have yet to undergo inquest proceedings.
They will remain in detention pending their deportation.
“Let this serve as a warning to other foreign nationals who plan on conducting their illegalities in the Philippines. We will not allow foreign criminals to use our country as their venue for their illegal activities,” Morente warned. (SunStar Philippines)