NBI nabs 4 Koreans for illegal online gambling

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday announced the arrest of four Koreans, including two fugitives who are allegedly members of a voice phishing syndicate that has been operating in the Philippines since 2017.

According to the bureau, the four were arrested during the implementation of a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data at a condominium in Porac, Pampanga on February 27.

Authorities also seized computer devices and gambling paraphernalia.

The agency said the operation that was done in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Korean Embassy, the NBI-Pampanga District Office (NBI-PAMDO) discovered that two of the arrested individuals are Korean fugitives.

The NBI said the fugitives belonged to a syndicate that defrauded their victims by posing as bankers, amassing $840,000 from their scams.

The Chuncheon District Court of the Republic of Korea issued an arrest warrant against the two for fraud.

They were also issued a red notice by the Interpol.

A red notice is a request for law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending his extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

The two fugitives are detained at the NBI-PAMDO facility.

Meanwhile, the NBI said the arrested individuals were indicted for illegal online gambling under Presidential Decree No. 1602 on illegal gambing in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. — BAP, GMA Integrated News