Minors rescued, crypto-trafficking hub raided in Angeles City

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — In a dramatic operation that exposed the dark underbelly of cybercrime, authorities rescued minors and numerous workers from a crypto-trafficking hub cleverly disguised as a business process outsourcing (BPO) company in this city.

On November 12, a joint task force comprising the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) executed Search Warrant No. 25-426 at WONSO BPO Services Inc. in Santa Teresita. The raid uncovered a sophisticated scheme where victims were lured with promises of legitimate call center jobs, only to be subjected to exploitative digital labor and forced into illegal cryptocurrency farming.

The operation led to the rescue of several workers, including two minors. Three individuals were apprehended: “Lim,” a Korean national serving as the manager/operator; “Gie,” a Filipina secretary; and “Jane,” another Filipina manager. A second Korean operator, known as “Park,” remains at large.

Authorities seized a significant haul of evidence, including 132 computer units, 44 mobile phones, and a trove of company documents, modems, routers, and other digital devices, all instrumental in the illicit operation.

PBGEN Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr., Regional Director of PRO3, emphasized the dual victory of the operation: rescuing vulnerable individuals and dismantling a complex cybercrime network. He affirmed that this success aligns with the PNP’s Focused Agenda, spearheaded by Acting Chief, PNP, PLTGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., which prioritizes enhanced police operations, cybercrime capability, and community protection.

"This success is not just for the authorities, but also for the young workers and all those seeking legitimate job opportunities," stated Peñones.

"I commend our operatives for their outstanding work in this operation, which is a crucial step in safeguarding our communities from deceptive schemes," he added.