The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday reported an “alarming development” in human trafficking patterns, flagging a new scheme that mirrors tactics used in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

On Sunday, BI officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a group of four Filipino travelers — one man and three women, all in their 30s to 40s — who were allegedly bound for illegal online gaming work in Pakistan.

The group, initially scheduled for a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong, told immigration officers they were going on a short vacation.

However, during secondary inspection, they admitted their final destination was Pakistan, where they had been recruited to work as cleaners and a cook in an online gaming compound.

The travelers told authorities that a Chinese recruiter promised them jobs with monthly salaries ranging from P35,000 to P45,000 and covered their travel expenses. The recruiter allegedly instructed the group to pose as tourists until further arrangements could be made abroad.

Immigration commissioner Joel Viado confirmed this was the first known case of trafficking victims bound for Pakistan, calling it “a new scheme from the same criminal playbook tied to POGOs.”

The BI has referred the case to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation.