The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said four foreign nationals in operations were arrested over financial fraud and illegal gambling activities.
The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), led by Rendel Ryan Sy, carried out separate operations with other law enforcement agencies in Muntinlupa City and Angeles, Pampanga.
Two Nigerian nationals, identified as Olawale Olatunji Adedayo, 46, and Dauzuo Jerome Atigbi, 34, were arrested along Narra Street in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City.
The arrests followed a request for assistance from a Philippine financial institution that reported fraudulent remittance claims across several branches.
BI said Atigbi allegedly posed as legitimate recipients of wire transfers, using multiple passports under different identities to claim funds.
Authorities recovered several passports bearing different names, with falsified travel stamps and inconsistent personal data based on BI records.
Both men were found to have overstayed their visas and are undergoing immigration proceedings.
In a separate operation in Angeles City, authorities arrested South Korean national Lee Younho, 45, who is wanted in South Korea for allegedly operating an illegal online gambling platform.
The warrant for his arrest was issued by the Suwon District Court.
He is also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.
Authorities said Lee operated an online gambling site from Pampanga, offering games such as baccarat, slot machines, and blackjack.
In a follow-up operation in Clark Freeport, agents arrested another South Korean national, Hong Hoon Kyu, 33, along Jose Abad Santos Avenue.
Hong is also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an arrest warrant issued by the Seoul Central District Court for fraud.
According to BI, Hong and his accomplices allegedly ran a scheme that targeted victims through social media advertisements promising profits from a “Minesweeper” betting system.
At least 15 victims were reportedly convinced to transfer a total of KRW 300 million.
Hong recruited victims, communicated with them directly, and directed them to fraudulent websites, where they were persuaded to deposit money into accounts opened under borrowed identities.
BI records show Hong entered the Philippines in March 2023 as a temporary visitor and later overstayed his visa.
The four individuals are currently detained at the BI Warden Facility while deportation proceedings are underway.