Who is Lyu Dong, alleged POGO 'kingpin'?

Authorities on Thursday evening arrested Lyu Dong, the so-called "kingpin" of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

An updated report of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to the Office of the President provided some details on his alleged identity.

Lyu Dong, real name Lin Xunhan, was born on July 4, 1991 in Fujian, China. He is in possession of a Chinese passport.

He operated under the aliases Bogo, Boga, Xiao Long, Apao, Pahao, and Hao Hao while he navigated legal and regulatory boundaries by utilizing a passport and identity under the name Lyu Dong.

PAOCC noted that at 24 years old, Lyu Dong came to the Philippines in 2016 and established a network of scam operations or scam farms across five regions.

In Central Luzon, he allegedly has ties to the POGO firm Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga and Hongsheng Gaming Technology, later named Zun Yuan Technology, tied to dismissed mayor Alice Guo in Bamban, Tarlac.

He also allegedly operates two companies in Ilocos Sur in the Ilocos Region, has direct control over illegal online activities in high-profile locations in Calabarzon, and has an established presence in Central Visayas.

Aside from this, PAOCC said his influence allegedly extends through numerous districts in Metro Manila, with known locations in Pasay, Paranaque, Manila, Makati, and Mandaluyong.

"The arrest of Lin Xunhan reveals the vulnerabilities within the current system that scammers like Dong exploit," PAOCC said.

Dong was arrested on Thursday night at a residential subdivision in Laguna.

Twelve Chinese and nine Filipinos, who served as their bodyguards, were also arrested.

A Chinese "bystander" was interviewed by immigration authorities during the operation. It was determined that he was on the BI's blacklist, which he acknowledged.

Three 9-mm caliber pistols were recovered from the Filipinos.

Dong was arrested on Thursday night in Laguna by PAOCC, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Armed Forces Joint Special Operations Group, and Bureau of Immigration following eight months of surveillance.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz on Friday told Unang Balita that authorities were looking into whether or not Dong may be among the individuals Guo refused to identify in congressional hearings.

According to the PAOCC chief, Dong was one of the individuals named when the task force applied for a search warrant for Lucky South 99 in Porac.

"Nung hinahanap nga namin ito, gumagamit din ito ng chopper kaya nahihirapan kaming sundan itong si Lyu Dong," he said.

(When we were looking for him he used a chopper so we had a hard time keeping up with Lyu Dong.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News