Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national allegedly involved in a transnational fraud syndicate operating a large-scale telecommunications scam.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the suspect as 28-year-old Zhao Jianfeng, who was apprehended in a residential area inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City during an operation on 28 June.

The BI said Zhao is the subject of a detention warrant issued by the Liangqing Branch of the Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau in China, dated 16 June.

“This individual is part of a dangerous and organized network that has defrauded countless victims online,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said.

During the operation, five other Chinese nationals—identified as Song Genyun, Wu Xinxu, Wen Jing, Xu Yongcheng, and Lin Jinyang—were also discovered allegedly operating computer workstations believed to be used in fraudulent activities.

Later the same day, another member of the syndicate, 25-year-old Lu Bingbing, was arrested at a casino in Angeles City. The BI said she failed to present her passport and valid immigration documents at the time of her arrest.

All suspects are currently undergoing booking and documentation at the BI. They will be detained at the BI Warden Facility while deportation proceedings are being prepared.