19 foreigners nabbed in Muntinlupa for drug trafficking, large-scale fraud

Immigration agents arrested 19 foreigners in Muntinlupa City over for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking and large-scale call center fraud. /Photo courtesy of BI Spokeswoman Dana Sandoval

Immigration agents have arrested 19 foreigners in Muntinlupa City for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking and large-scale call center fraud.

Of the 19 foreigners, 16 were Thai nationals while three were Taiwanese. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Royal Thai Police on June 14, Thursday.

The 16 Thais were allegedly involved in a large-scale criminal syndicate that has been operating an illegal call center in the country, Immigration chief Jaime Morente said on Friday.

On the other hand, three Taiwanese nationals who were arrested in the same operation were also fugitives wanted for drug trafficking charges, he added.

“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.

Morente said a report by BI Fugitive Search Unit chief Bobby Raquepo disclosed that the syndicate had operated in Cambodia and Malaysia before expanding their operations to the Philippines.

“Let this serve as a warning to other foreign nationals who plan on conducting their illegalities in the Philippines,” Morente.

“We will not allow foreign criminals to use our country as their venue for their illegal activities,” he added.

The nabbed foreigners will undergo inquest proceedings before they would be admitted to the BI detention facility in Taguig City while their deportation is being processed.  /vvp