Philippines arrests nearly 600 people in anti-human trafficking raid

SGGPO 10/28/2023 19:29

Philippine authorities announced on October 28 that police had arrested nearly 600 people in a raid on a suspected prostitution and online fraud ring in Manila.

Philippine special police officers participate in an anti-terrorism exercise in Manila. Photo: VNA

In a statement, the Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said that nationals from several Asian countries were among those found inside the compound during the operation on the evening of October 27. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla told reporters that authorities were questioning 598 detainees to determine who were victims or suspects.

The Chinese embassy has been asked to help identify nine people suspected of running the business, which is licensed as an online gaming company. “It was a large-scale operation… generating huge profits from human trafficking,” Remulla said.

In late June, Philippine police conducted a major raid, rescuing more than 2,700 workers from 18 countries, many of whom were believed to be victims of human trafficking. The number of victims rescued from seven buildings in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, was the largest raid so far this year, raising concerns that the Philippines has become a major base of operations for cybercrime organizations.

Internet scams have become a major problem in Asia with reports of people from within and outside the region being lured into working in other countries with high salaries. However, many of these people are abused, mistreated and forced to participate in luring players into Internet scams and online games.

In May, Philippine police raided another cybercrime operation in Mabalacat City north of Manila, rescuing nearly 1,400 workers who were forced to carry out cryptocurrency scams.

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