Philippine authorities have raided and shut down an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Parañaque City, arresting 453 people.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced the Thursday raid, noting that initial interviews with the foreigners arrested “indicate an investment scam based on fixed stock exchange trading”.
The PAOCC also indicated that the alleged POGO operated a sports betting scam targeting Chinese and Indian nationals.
Of those arrested, 307 are Filipino, with 137 Chinese, three Vietnamese, two Malaysians, two Thai, one Indonesian and one individual from Taiwan.
The raid was conducted in combination with the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Southern Police District, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime, Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Authorities have been strengthening efforts in cracking down on POGO operations in the country after the were formally banned by executive order, effective January 1st.
